The smooth feel of earthy greens brush against my hands. The smell of fresh herbs and new life spread through my nose. The tranquil garden is filled with love and sunlight to nurture its young and old. The gardener must pull the weeds and water the plants for their peak performance. This is comparable to life. One must nurture their relationships with friends and families. They must work hard to preserve the precious life of their relationships. As I walk through the serene garden, I notice the extensive variety of greens surrounding me. Some similar, yet none the exact same. This can relate to humans. Every person is unique. Each individual requires different needs in relationships to prosper. The gardener must learn the distinctive health requirements for each and every plant.

I use this symbol to reflect back on my life. On the lives and relationships that I’ve had to nurture. I reflect on the weeds I’ve had to pluck from my life. The sunlight that I had to shine on my friendships.

Gardens can have a prosperous, abundant year full of growth and health. However, they can also have an unfavorable year which only leaves behind an inadequate amount of plants and a failure to thrive. A plant that had been trusted as reliable for years on end can suddenly wither and die. No matter how much you care for and guide it, it can still fail you when you need it most. Similarly, friendships can hold the same pattern. There are times where I feel as if I have no one. As if I don’t matter to any single person. Yet, there are times where I am surrounded by an abundance of people who deeply care for me. The garden reminds me that even throughout my darkest days, I have to remember the light at the end of the tunnel. The promise of better days and stronger relationships. I must remember that a garden needs rain to survive. Although it’s stormy now, it can’t rain forever. The rain will eventually halt and open to sunny skies.

As the sun shines brilliantly against the green vines, I observe how well-kept the garden is. Not a single weed is within sight. This prompts me to consider how I must remove the weeds from my life. I must erase the toxic friends who I keep around. For they only cause me pain and unhappiness. In time, the weeds will begin to take up too much space. Once an extensive amount is left, there is no longer space for the pure plants to multiply. If I surround myself with toxic, fake friends, I will not see the bright lights of my true friends. I will be swallowed into a pit of negativity with no escape.

It’s on that note that a smile appears on my face. As I walk through the radiant garden, I reflect on how much I have been through. I reflect on the relationships I had to nurture, that in time became successful. I reflect on those relationships which still thrive to this day. Through all my years on earth, I have strengthened friendships that will last a lifetime. As I take in the beauty of the nature surrounding me,  I let out a sigh and take a final glance around the garden. The green of the garden gleamed in the sunlight. It’s with that sight, I confirm, life is good.