Create Your Own Happiness: Garden!

(This is the second installment of the Create Your Own Happiness series. Get caught up on the first article, available now: livetheseasonedlife.com/create-your-own-happiness-scent.)

Okay…hear me out on this one. And yes, I’ve become that girl that woman and you best believe that We Do Not Care (#wdnc). The point is, in the hustle of daily life, especially for women aged 35–55, it’s almost impossible to find peace and personal fulfillment. This is why it’s important to create your own happiness. How?

Enter: Gardening.

Gardening is a therapeutic practice that allows you to reconnect with nature, engage in physical activity, and witness the fruits of your labor, all of which contribute to a profound sense of happiness. It gives you the satisfaction of something being grateful to you for your care and attention to its growth, thanking you with bigger blooms or a bountiful harvest.

Now before you tell me about your brown thumbs and how your college dorm room cactus didn’t live through the semester, I must remind you that you are a different person now. You’ve grown, you’ve matured, and you now (hopefully) have the patience to keep even one plant alive.

How Gardening Helps You Create Your Own Happiness

The beauty of gardening for me is that it’s a quiet space, and no person in my household (usually) wants to do it with me. Therefore, I can enjoy it by myself, guiding others through the space by request and only if I so choose to do so. I can stay in the garden all day, working away at digging a hole, transplanting something, or fertilizing something else, in silence, with nothing but my thoughts and no one to disturb the greatness happening between my ears.

Call me selfish if you want. I don’t mind. 🙂

I propose to you that gardening is an excellent way to create happiness in your life. But – if you read this post and decide that gardening is not for you, I understand. Not everyone wants dirt underneath their fingernails, or the challenge of warding pests off your zucchini plants. If that’s the case for you, I challenge you to find your own hobby that brings you unmitigated peace and quiet, preferably something you love that you can do solo* or in limited company. Finding your own hobby is probably the easiest and most underrated way to create happiness in your life. Why is it underrated? Well, we often take hobbies for granted, assuming they are only for the independently wealthy who can afford a luxurious nanny to tend to the house & kids while we’re off playing tennis. Not true.  

*To be clear, you don’t need to do things solo, but solo work helps with sorting out your thoughts and desires. If you need a companion in your hobby zone, by all means – phone a friend or two.

Now, I fully recognize that not everyone has a Meghan Duchess of Sussex garden, a Martha Stewart garden, or even a yard for that matter. Neither do I. I’m not asking anything grand of you…just to hear me out and honestly decide for yourself if gardening is a seasoning you’d like to add to your life.

Creating Happiness: The Therapeutic Benefits of Gardening

Gardening has numerous health benefits of which we will cover three.

The act of nurturing a garden does not require a big garden. My garden at home is entirely on my patio, approximately 10’x10’, with a few items planted throughout the yard. This may seem like a dream for some; just know that I pressed my way and took over a bit of entertaining space to make it happen. But don’t fret if all you have is a windowsill; a lot can be accomplished in just a few inches.

Creating Happiness: Gardening as a Form of Self-Care

Incorporating gardening into your routine serves as a form of self-care. It encourages you to spend time outdoors, soak in vitamin D, and engage in moderate physical activity, all of which are beneficial for your health and mood. Moreover, the act of caring for plants can be meditative, allowing you to focus on the present moment and cultivate a sense of inner peace.  Real Simple has a really nice article on 7 ways that gardening can help you live a happier, healthier life. Not only is it a mood booster, it gets our bodies moving, and forces us outside into fresh air. These components alone have a tremendous impact on our long-term quality of life, and short-term ability to cope with life.

Building Community Through Gardening

Gardening can also be a communal activity. Joining local gardening clubs or participating in community gardens can foster social connections, provide a support system, and enhance your sense of belonging. These interactions can be particularly enriching, offering opportunities to share knowledge, experiences, and the joys of gardening.

I’ve found that the older I become, the more introverted I become. Plainly put, sometimes I want to be left alone with my flowers and my thoughts. So, aside from general connectedness to humanity, building community is not a core requirement for me with regard to this hobby. But – I do love connecting with other gardeners for tips and advice as needs arise.

Creating Happiness: Beginner Tips for Starting Your Garden

Gardening isn’t as challenging as some will lead you to believe. My most honest advice is that you have to be patient, and you have to pay attention to your plants in the same way you’d pay attention to a friend. Does your friend look happiest when they’re outside? This means you should give them plenty of sunshine. Does your friend look and feel dry? Give them some water. Do they already seem wet? No need to give them more water! Paying simple attention makes all the difference when getting into this hobby.

Here are a few more tips to get you started:

• Start as small as you can: There are a few reasons to start small. One, you need time to decide if gardening is for you (I hope so!). Two, it will certainly take a season for you to get your stride, understanding the best environment for your plants, and for you to decide which plants make the most sense for your lifestyle. Start with one pot of herbs or flowers on your balcony or windowsill (just one!) and see how things evolve over time.

• Choose Easy-to-Grow Plants: The easiest plants to grow, in my opinion, are herbs. Plants like basil and marigolds are known for their resilience and minimal care requirements. All both really need is a ton of sunlight and watering if and when the soil feels dry. If you don’t have a ton of sun, you can opt for an indoor plant like a philodendron which also grows easily and requires water only when the soil feels dry. If you’re a first timer, try to steer clear of the fiddle leaf fig. It’s a beautiful and trendy plant, but it’s notoriously finnicky in terms of care requirements.

• Set a Relative Routine: Dedicate time each day or week to tend to your plants, turning it into a mindful practice. Over time, it’ll be something you look forward to, creating happiness even in the most chaotic times. Be sure to read the labels that come with the plants, as those labels give you all the info you need about what your plant needs during tending time. Don’t wing it; follow the instructions, and you should be in good shape. If the plants don’t “need” anything from you when you check in on them, just take a minute to admire their beauty and their growth (and admire yourself for making the effort!).

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Creating Happiness Means Embracing the Seasons of Life

Just as gardens go through seasons, so do our lives. I mean, if you had told my 20-something self that I’d become a plant lady, I would’ve laughed in your face. However, it’s an honor to finally embrace the cyclical nature of growth, bloom, and rest that gardening provides in my life. Now, there are full seasons when I don’t get into the yard for any gardening work, and it’s easy to be self-critical whenever that happens. It’s important to remember that all parts of life are cyclical, and when my body naturally wants to go inside for the season, it’s typically the same time at which (most of) my plants go dormant for the winter. Recognizing and accepting these phases leads to greater self-awareness, compassion, and resilience, which are key elements in creating your own happiness.

Gardening is more than a hobby; it’s a way to create your own happiness. Gardening nurtures your body with a workout, it gives you peace in your mind, and it soothes your spirit. The practice offers a sanctuary where you can grow right alongside your plants. Whether you have a sprawling yard or a tiny windowsill, the act of gardening can bring immense joy and fulfillment into your life. Time to get outside (or to that windowsill) and grow something great!

Stay Seasoned, my Friends.

Shauna