What Gardening Has Taught Me About Slowing Down
This year, I made a promise to take better care of me.
Well… it wasn’t so quiet.
I let my friends and family know I was having a really rough time last year, dealing with anxiety, wrestling with perfectionism, and feeling the weight of burnout. Saying it out loud wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. And from that space, I began to rebuild something softer, steadier, and far more sustainable.
And surprisingly or maybe not…gardening became a main part of that care.
There’s something healing about stepping outside and placing your hands in the dirt. The scent of basil or thyme as your fingers brush past. The steady rhythm of watering, weeding, watching. It's all so beautifully unrushed, a pace that reminds me it's okay to slow down.
In the Garden, There Are No Shortcuts
Plants take time. You can’t rush a tomato to ripen or a bloom to unfurl. But with care, sun, water, patience they show up. Gloriously. And that’s the same reminder I’ve needed for myself: that growth isn’t immediate, but it does come when nurtured.
Little Rituals That Ground Me
It might be snipping herbs in the morning light, then immediately texting the group chat to ask if anyone needs some. Or checking the raised beds at dusk when the air is soft and golden. These small moments have become rituals—quiet acts of care that tether me to something deeper than a to-do list.
My cousin Michael and I summering in Long Island.
We Deserve to Be Nurtured, Too
I’ve spent years pouring into others (work, home, family), and I’m proud of that. But this year, I learned that in order to bloom, I have to pour into myself too. Gardening has been that gentle nudge, a reminder that tending to something with love makes all the difference. And yes, that includes tending to me.
So if you’ve been moving fast, I hope this encourages you to step outside. Feel the sun on your back. Smell the rosemary and that’s coming from someone who never even liked the smell of it… but this year, it grew on me. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
Dig with your bare hands. Breathe a little deeper. And remember: slow and steady isn’t just for plants…it’s for people, too.
🌱
With love,
Meg
Maison Des McAlarney
