Cultivating optimism

You know that old chestnut, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, turns out the universe handed me a botanical plot twist to remind me just how true that is. Picture this: I’m in a yard—not your high maintenance  magazine yard, but a wild, wonderfully untamed Eden tucked away in the back of the yard. The kind where nature does whatever she pleases, flinging seeds around, letting what wants to grow, grow. Some call it chaos. I call it “divinely unmanicured.”

So there I am, giving my inner garden gnome some exercise—pulling a few weeds, trimming back the overachievers—when suddenly, I stumble (almost literally, because that’s how I garden) upon the most awe-inspiring stash of shampoo ginger I’ve ever laid eyes on. No joke, at least 100 ripe  glorious cones bursting forth in one spot, like a secret treasure chest of nature. Honestly, unless you really get in there, you’d never know it’s there—hidden magic, waiting quietly for an appreciative audience.

It’s places like this—wild, a little unruly, and completely at peace with itself—that feed my soul. And as if on cosmic cue, the household cat makes her appearance, striking a pose at the window. This is the second-coolest cat in the known universe (first place remains with my sister's cool cat named Ernie). She watches my gardening spectacle, probably wondering if I’ve finally become one with the soil.

All of this is nature’s gentle nudge: beauty can’t be forced, polished, or planted according to human blueprints. Sometimes, you’ve got to look past the obvious, dig a little deeper, and trust that life—like the best gardens—will astonish you with its generosity when you let it be. So here’s to discovering unexpected treasures and letting your heart (and maybe your hands) get a little dirty in the process.

May your own wild corners—whether in the garden or within—reveal their hidden magic just when you need it most. If you've ever found an unexpected treasure (plant, insight, or otherwise) in your backyard or your journey, and would like to  share your story in the comments, please feel free. Let’s keep nurturing both our curiosity and our connection—to nature, each other, and all the magnificent wonders. Until the next adventure, happy digging!

 

                                                                             Heather