Make A Difference In The Life Of Another

Yesterday I was surprised when I walked out into the back garden and saw these fragrant blooms and smiled as I realized these flowers represent more than the heralding of Spring, they represent community. My friend, Helen Dale, gave me these bulbs and last fall, on a cold and blustery day, I dug a small hole and planted them with loving thoughts of her smile. Helen may live in San Francisco and I may live in Chicago, but our friendship is no less meaningful because of the distance. This bulb reminds me that she is a part of my community and I am grateful.

Community and good mental health is connected by a thin and marvelous strand of powerful glue. It is about helping the people you touch realize less isolation. We in the United States take more anti-depressants than any other country. Why do you think that is? My belief is it is partly due to isolation from each other and isolation from nature.

Connecting people and getting to know more people in my community whenever I can has become my joy. In particular, gardeners have a marvelous skill at uniting community. Most gardeners I have met are generous to a fault and are fantastic at getting people out in nature to help each other. Most gardeners realize that gardening – and therefore being in nature - is therapy and work to bring people together by giving plants away and educating whoever is within earshot on the benefits of helping the earth. And guess what? Almost every homeowner can try to be a gardener and a good neighbor in their community.

Why not spend some time today bringing community together and making a mental health difference for someone you know?

Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

Comments

[Anthony Howe]

spring's herald
blue blooms of memories
friends far n near

[Atelier de Soyun]

Beautiful~
You're so right. Gardening is something like a thraphy. Since I am living in a small studio I don't really have any space for it, but you convinced me it worth. Mayby I am going to try this spring.