Zen of Working in the Yard

I just finished an article in the Washington Post about how spending two hours a week in “green space” adds to your life expectancy. Another piece spoke about the “sober curious” movement among mothers.  For some reason things that seem normal and logical become revelations in today’s society.  Living your life is actually good for you and avoiding life puts a strain on your well being.  Go figure.  Moving about is good, sitting around isn’t so good.  Eating real food is good, processed food, not so good.  Drinking water good, soda and sugary drinks… well you get the idea.  There is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness… the zen of working in the yard.

I get comments from neighbors about how nice my yard looks and frankly, I find it embarrassing.  The last thing I care about is what the neighbors think of my lawn.  Somewhere along the way, I’ve written about how I see my yard as one big Bonsai tree.  I use it as a way to be part of what surrounds me.  Hiring someone to take care of the lawn would separate me from an experience that I find gratifying.  There’s the physical experience of the work, there is transcendence in being involved with nature and, when it’s all done there is an aesthetic element of viewing what I have done.

There is a certain truth of the nature of things that emanates from a job well done, whether it’s a painting or, a symphony, a brick wall or, my new mown lawn.  I do not sit in the Zen sense of the word.  I am not a meditator.  But mindfulness…I mow my lawn and cook my dinner and, I literally chop wood and carry water.