In a quaint village on the banks of a placid river, three men devoted their time to tending gardens. While all three cultivated external gardens, they also nurtured their internal ones, attending to them with equal, if not greater, diligence.
The Gardens of the Soul: How Three Men Care for Their Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being
The first man, Thomas, was a rather brooding figure. In his internal garden, he sowed every criticism and offense he had received or conjured in his imagination. Each disparaging word became a seed that grew into a thorny plant. Over time, his garden became overrun with brambles and thistles that stifled his spirit.
“These thorns protect me,” he would say, navigating the winding, difficult paths of his inner garden.
Joaquin, the second man, planted only roses in his internal garden. To each good deed or accomplishment, he allocated a rose. His garden burst with them, in varying colors and shapes. But roses require meticulous care, and Joaquin spent his days pruning, watering, and shielding them from the elements. Despite the beauty surrounding him, he had scant time to sit and relish it.
“If I neglect my roses, I will lose everything I have achieved,” he murmured.
Finally, there was Gabriel, a man with a tranquil gaze and a gentle demeanor. In his internal garden, there was an impressive array of flowers, shrubs, trees, and even small ponds. He had roses like Joaquin, but also lilies, daisies, orchids, and jasmines. Fruit trees supplied nourishment, and willows offered shade. Not everything in his garden was perfect; some areas were under restoration, and here and there were signs of struggles with pests or diseases. Nevertheless, each time he pulled a weed, he planted something beautiful in its place.
“My garden represents my life, with its blend of joys, sorrows, achievements, and failures,” he explained. “If I uproot a weed, I plant a flower. If I harvest fruit, I plant another seed. I accept both the good and the bad because they help me grow.”
Upon observing the three gardens and the three gardeners, the villagers came to understand the myriad ways in which human beings tend to their emotional and spiritual well-being.
From Thomas, they learned the peril of becoming ensnared in the thorns of the past. Joaquin, the lesson was clear: success and achievements are important but aren’t everything in life. From Gabriel, they gained the wisdom of balancing all facets of human existence, caring for one’s inner garden with love, acceptance, and a vision of continual growth.
In the gardens of the soul, each person sows what they wish to reap. And in that simple yet profound truth lies the key to a fulfilling and enriched life.
