More Isn’t Always Better: A Gardening Lesson for Life

Even though I usually look forward to planning my garden, this year, I just haven’t been motivated. I suspect my lack of enthusiasm comes from remembering the back pain I experienced last season while tending the garden. Maybe my subconscious is trying to protect me from repeating that struggle. Still, I finally set aside some time to get it done, and in the process, I made some interesting discoveries.

I pulled out my seed collection to take inventory. In one box, I found packets from the past three years—some opened, some still sealed. I also came across seeds that I’d collected and dried from the plants I grew in last year’s garden and the year before. I was relieved to see I had more seeds than I expected.

Then, next to my box of seed packets, I found a large envelope filled with even more seeds. At some point, I must have set them aside and forgotten about them. When I checked the dates, I couldn’t believe it—some were more than ten years old! Even though I must have ordered them from seed catalogs, I barely recognized some of them. It made me wonder what I was thinking back then. My priorities and goals for the garden have obviously changed. Back then, I made other choices about what to grow and how to fill the space.

That’s the thing with gardens—there’s only so much space. You have to be intentional about what you plant, choosing what’s most important and letting go of the rest. That’s always been a challenge for me. I want to grow everything! But that’s not realistic, nor is it wise. Plants have needs—nutrients, sunlight, good airflow—and overcrowding stunts their growth.

The same is true in life. The world constantly tells us that we should want it all, do it all, and chase after more. But at the end of the day, we all have the same 24 hours. No more, no less. You have to decide how to fill that time. If we try to cram too much into our schedules, we end up stressed, stretched thin, and unable to thrive. Just like in the garden, we need space to focus on what truly matters.

So as you plan your days, I encourage you to let go of the pressure to have it all and instead focus on having what’s best. Leave room for what truly matters. When you plant wisely, your life—like a well-tended garden—will flourish.