Think of relationships like flowers, we are excited and happy to receive them; they add beauty and color to our lives while they are here and when they die we feel a loss. Put together all the different relationships you have in life and you have a garden. Family, friends, lovers, coworkers, neighbors…all make up what could be called your ‘relationship garden’. Like flowers all relationships have a different life span, some have deep roots and will weather many storms while others will bloom brilliantly for a brief time and then be gone. All have a purpose. All should be cherished for what they are and the time they are with us.

Now, if you have ever had a garden you know that it takes a lot of time and attention to keep it looking beautiful, to keep it healthy and keep it growing strong. You have to feed it, water it, make sure it has plenty of sunshine and protect it from weeds and pests. If you neglect a garden it will stop growing. If it is not growing, it is dying. Likewise, if your relationships are not growing, they are dying. Relationships, like flower gardens flourish when they are properly tended. Their vibrant colors create a picture of health, of harmony.

With hectic lives, busy schedules and never ending To Do lists it’s easy to get side tracked, to let relationships fall to the wayside or to push our friends and loved ones to the bottom of the priority list. What we must not forget is that a little bit of love goes a long way. A little bit of sunshine will make the flowers bloom. Keep the harmony of your garden strong. Keep the harmony of your life strong, it is all the pieces together that make the whole so beautiful. When you see all the relationships in your life in full bloom, when you are experiencing that joy, love and compassion, it does make everything worthwhile.