Saturday, September 26, 2009

Landscape Escape

I'm one of those lucky guys who has lots of hobbies to occupy my time and energy. I am an avid reader and collector of books (as well as tea and turtles). I love to travel and play my guitar. And I stay busy with my writing, videos, and music projects (not to mention this blog and my video site). But one of my favorite hobbies is landscaping. I like nothing better than to take an empty or weed-strewn chunk of land and turn it into a colorful, blooming masterpiece that enhances the natural scenery and makes me smile every time I wander through it.

I enjoy landscaping so much that I consider it therapeutic, one of my great escapes whenever I need some time away from the everyday challenges and all too often stresses of life.

LANDSCAPE ESCAPE



Besides being a terrific form of exercise, landscaping is a wonderful way to get back to nature, to roll up those sleeves and dig your hands into the earth. There’s nothing like working up a sweat with the sounds of birds or squirrels singing and chirping away in the background.

Another thing that draws me to landscaping is the sense of accomplishment I feel when I (finally) complete a project. Life is a journey that should be enjoyed throughout each leg; the same can be said about landscaping. I like the fact that there’s a beginning, middle, and end, and while the finish line can seem a long way off at the outset of any project, the key is to enjoy every minute of the experience--I do this with landscaping, just as I try to do with all aspects of my life.

One thing I always talk about trying to achieve is the Triad of Balance, which is working on finding harmony between the Mind, Body, and Spirit, after first balancing each one on its own. Simply put: in order to lead the most fulfilling and purposeful life, I believe one has to work on the Mind, Body, and Spirit every day, and then balance all three together. If one of these is out of whack, then even though the other two are working fine, you are not complete, not in balance, and, therefore, not living your life to its fullest. Landscaping is one of those hobbies that helps me to stay balanced. My MIND is in constant motion, thinking and planning, focused on the tasks at hand and then executing and achieving. While my SPIRIT feels free as I dig up the dirt, plant flowers and trees, communing with nature. I also feel less stressful: when I am outside with a shovel in my hands I seldom allow distractions to interfere--a good thing. Lastly, my BODY gets plenty of work pushing a wheelbarrow around, freeing up boulders from the ground, and digging, digging, digging. Landscaping is great exercise and a calorie burner.

So what are you waiting for? Summer may be over, but fall is an excellent time to do some planting and work around the yard. Besides being a fun and rewarding hobby, landscaping is a chance to help you find balance between your MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT. Think about it.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

18 comments:

Jackie said...

Oh Mike my husband simply loves to do gardening too.

I think it comes from him having grown up on a farm.

The first thing he does when he comes home from his travels is head out and start poking around.

Some of our neighbors find it hard to believe because here he is, home only for a few days, every 6 to 8 weeks and he spends the entire time working.

But, he simply loves it. For him he gets a complete renewal of spirit when his hands are working in the dirt.

I can't wait until he retires. He didn't start this traveling job until his early 50's. So I am use to having a yard loaded with all sorts of goodies for every season.

I still have my sunflower shots and haven't forgotten. This entire mess with EC has kept me busy all week. I am compiling a list to make sure all of my favorite blogs are on them. That would definitely include you!!

I am almost positive that i added you ages ago. but, I will be double checking. I don't want to lose touch!!
Peace,
Jackie:-)

Susan Blake said...

Hi Mike! After I watched your video I booked a massage! I had to. It brought back memories of years of work -the patio we put in, the stones we moved, the 35 x 50 veg. garden I tended to for years. I know the sense of accomplishment and the great (ouchie) exercise it was.

I have different agenda for my triad these days. Here is my current formula for landscaping -
Call Lupe
Point to What I want done
Write check for Lupe

Redkathy said...

You are a lucky guy to have time to tend to all those hobbies!I couldn't agree more that mind body and spirit have to be in balance. Spirit for me includes my personal faith in God. Being out of sinc really makes for an unhappy time. Thanks for another enriching, and beautiful post!

Amy said...

I love beautiful gardens. Sadly I was born with a black thumb that kills everything (including the unkillable-cacti, yes, cacti, I've killed more than one), despite my love and attention towards the plants.

Unknown said...

shinade: your husband sounds like a chip off my own block--i sometimes have to ask myself why i spend so much time "working" in the yard...

suzen: you sound like my wife--massage, call lupe, write checks...

redkathy: faith and spirit are the building blocks for the complete life...thanks for sharing...

vegetation: black thumb with a name like vegetation?


peace,

mike

Susan Blake said...

Happy to be in such good company! :) I earned my "retirement", believe me!

Rick (Ratty) said...

My grandparents used to do this. They were always so happy doing it that I understand what you mean just from the memory of them. I don't have the right place for landscaping, so I get this same balance from hiking and observing nature.

vicy said...

Wow I love gardens and I would love to garden but weather here in AZ makes me lazy hehe!!Thats an awesome hobby

Rod said...

I get your vibe Mike with regards to landscaping, it feels good to step back and admire the manual labor you've put into something, there is a certain satisfaction that comes with it. BTW Mike the quality of this video was excellent, whatever tweaks you did to your camera don't change it, this video looks and sounds better than ever.

Faisal Admar said...

landscaping is cool but i don't think i have much space to do that. but i do gardening with my other half every weekend. the feeling is so beautiful when you can touch the soil and the plants. sooth your eyes too when you look at the green plants :)

lately we plant an ambra tree and going to plant lady finger :)

Unknown said...

suzen: you are in very good company, indeed...

ratty: any way we get back to nature is a good thing...

vicy: we have very hot and dry weather here, too, but the more i get outside and work in it, the more i get used to it...

rod: the biggest difference with the quality of the video is the natural lighting from shooting outdoors and a few professional secrets...

faisal: finding the space to landscape and garden can be a challenge, but it looks like you figured it out...all you need is one plant and you have a garden...



peace,

mike

WellnessPartners said...

Hi Mike. I'm glad to read another great post from you. Landscaping is great therapy indeed!

Robin said...

Hi Mike - sounds like you have a good combination working for you there! Personally, I haven't ever been able to get into gardening - I got discouraged many years ago when something ate all my vegetables, but last summer we enjoyed growing chilis in pots. Actually, we got quite excited about our chilis. I enjoyed your take on finding balance by including gardening - good idea! - Robin

John @ Family, Fitness and Finances said...

I love gardening and landscaping as well Mike! There is nothing I like better than working up a sweat in the yard. My wife and I dedicate time to tend to our yard just about every weekend, all year long. We love it!

Unknown said...

wellness: it puts me in a better place than i was before...and make the yard nice too...

robin: balance, to me, is one of the keys to just about everything in life...

john: sounds like you and your wife have got it going on...


peace,

mike

Robin Easton said...

Dear mike,

I was here days ago and read this and watched the DELIGHTFUL video, but got drawn away with work with my agent. But I just love this video. It is so magically playful and beyond that it expresses my favorite kind of exercise.

I too love doing this kind of work. Although it's SO hard it makes me feel so good after, even if I ache a bit from it. I sleep like a log and feel a great peace.

You really are something special and unique in that you are just yourself and look like you are having fun. Your videos always make me feel so dang happy and relaxed after I watch them. That is a rare gift.

I also have LOVED your comments on my site. You've no idea how much they mean. It's been a joy to get to know you and look at the world through your eyes and experience.

Hugs,
Robin

Unknown said...

hey robin, always wonderful to hear from you...making you happy makes me happy...so glad you enjoy my videos, they are a passion of mine that i love to share...


peace,

mike

Paul Eilers said...

My mother used to say that working in the yard was good therapy for her. I used to think, "She needs therapy."

Now here I am out there working in my yard all the time.

I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, eh?