Random pineapples.
Welcome back to the Good Life Chronicles, your weekly reminder that living well is simple and within reach!
I’m an accidental gardener. I have no idea what plants are called what, which soil is best, or where they should be placed for best light or shade. But what I do know is that I like greenery, nature and the idea that things are growing all around me.
The truth is that I have a messy, disorderly garden. I don’t even put certain plants in certain pots at certain corners. My level of expertise extends to eating fruit and vegetables, tossing the seeds in a pot and seeing their consequence a few weeks later. By then, I’ve forgotten what I put where, so, what comes up is mostly a surprise.
So far, it’s tomatoes on the balcony, avocados (which grow exceedingly fast if you’re curious), a pineapple top that miraculously came back to life, and a bunch of colourful Mexican sunflowers scattered about. There are a few odd things which I cannot identify, I may have a carrot, but that’s half the interest. Each day brings a new little shoot, a burst of colour, or leaf I hadn’t noticed before.
(Balcony tomatoes on the way! Tiny but mighty. Everything grows in Dubai).
What makes gardening nice isn’t just seeing things grow; it’s the anticipation and care. Plants need attention, are mostly forgiving, and reward you for your interest. Plus, I’m a Canadian farm kid, so playing in the dirt, smelling earthy soil, and spotting tiny insects busy in their miniature worlds is a quick way to detach from work, traffic, and other modern-day worries. Nature is good for our mood and with climate change, we should all be connecting and promoting nature more often anyways.
If you haven’t tried gardening, why not? It involves zero skills other than not forgetting to water and not watering too much. A pot of some sort and dirt. And buying seeds? Not even necessary: take them from your next salad or snack! Still unsure? There’s Google for everything else.
How are you growing a Good Life in your home or garden?
Share in the comments here or below depending on your platform. Remember to log in to leave a comment. I’d love to hear your green (or not-so-green!) stories.
While you’re here!
If you like the idea of happiness and feel someone in your life should too, pass along this newsletter. They can sign up at www.happinessmatters.org
If you want to be part of a growing community of people also choosing happiness, follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Why not learn the skills of happiness? Sign up to my course here, where I share scientifically tested strategies to help you build a better life. You can also “gift” the course to others. Say hi to get a discount code!
Responses