Who Do You Choose to Have in Your Garden of Life?

Besides his full time occupation of being a doctor, in his heart, my dad is a loving farmer. With the limited space we have on top of our shop house, he has managed to plant more than 23 varieties of vegetables or fruits 2 years ago (the number should be increasing by now? I'm not sure). Plants that eventually will feed our family, relatives, neighbours and friends. He's super happy when people get to taste the fruits of his labour. The feedback he receives will fuel him to do better, try new things and share more.

Due to the very limited space that we have, he is very careful of what he grows. I remember when he had to get rid of plants that didn't give positive feedback. No fruits, no flowers ... nothing. After waiting for few months, he will then decide to get rid of them and let the space be flourished with new seeds.

Through that observation, I've learned a very important metaphor to life. We too are the gardeners of our lives. The relationships we have with others are like the diversity of plants we have cultivated along the way. We planted the seeds just like how we sealed our friendships through the initial handshakes. We watered and tended to the plants on regular basis, just like how we consciously ensure we don't lose touch. Some need more time, some need more attention, some need more activities together, different strokes for different folks. Based on the feedback we receive, whether the relationships bear fruits or not, we then decide whether the limited space of our garden is being invested wisely.

Sometimes, despite the perceived giving on our end, we may not receive any types of positive affirmations from the relationship. Just like the plants which are not dying but they are also not going anywhere. Maybe they need more time. Maybe they just grow better with different soils and farmers. Sometimes, we will never know. But what we know, as the farmers of our own garden, being given the same amount of time by The Universe, we must do our best to ensure our gardens don't go to waste. When our best is still not enough, then it's time to let the plant go. Eventually, each plant will find a place where it really belongs. All is well.
 

Your energy will only rise in direct relationship to the number of things you are able to get rid of - not to the things you acquire. By getting rid of things, attitudes, encumbrances, and blocks of one kind or another, things fly.
- Stuart Wilde

Fortunately, this money plant has been with me since 2007.
We are still meant for each other and it gave me positive feedback. Huat ah!

PS. Happy spring cleaning too, Everyone!