The chapters in this book describe learnings and understandings that unfolded over many years of nurturing my garden.The garden is a reflective, quiet place where I can watch the pattern of my thoughts. It’s a place where I can learn about myself and about the life that surrounds me.

This learning is not done to be endlessly entertained about with “all about me.” It’s done to become aware of my concepts, expectations, biases, habits, beliefs, and limiting ideas.

I want to be conscious of these things because I then have choice to adjust them. They’re running my life from the unconscious level anyway. Thus they perpetuate ways of being that are not in accord with living an effective life. To align with the ideals I seek to live by, I need to be aware of what gets in the way of doing it.

I also want to become more receptive to the other-than-human beings that surround me. The quiet, reflective space of the garden allows this to unfold. It builds understanding that is vital in these times of dire need on our planet. Our full engagement with actions to alleviate the harm being done to other living things is of critical importance.

I wonder: is this expansion of awareness that let’s us perceive more of the life that surrounds us maybe an evolutionary prompt to bring greater awareness, greater insight, more conscious choices, prompting us to choose, support and care for this one life we all share. Because it’s crucial that we do.

If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are.

– Wendell Berry –