What Kind of Garden Do You Grow?

The other day I was admiring a neighbor's garden. It was filled with lovely flowers, carefully arranged with rocks.

'I wish I had a garden like that,' I thought.

Then I realized: a garden like that I could indeed have. It wasn't out of my reach, or somehow denied to me.

It is much like life.

We see people with things we want, and we feel sadly deprived.

I could have that garden, if I willingly planned a garden, put the work in, got my soil ready, went out and weeded.

Frankly, I wasn't willing to put the work in.

I wonder in what other situations in my life had I chosen not to have the 'garden' - only to later longingly look at someone else enjoying their garden.

If I want a beautiful garden,I need to plant the seeds. I need to plan ahead and buy the seeds. I need to prepare my soil and educate myself on how to grow this garden. I need to go out in the hot sun and weed, dig, plant.

A beautful garden can be mine, if I'm willing to put forth the work and effort.