by Michelle Macdonald, Letter Writing and Mail Club Enthusiast.
List your favourite hobbies. Pick one that gives you great fulfillment. Why is it so special to you?
Dear reader,
It has taken me some time to figure out who I am and which pastimes I need to feel truly content. My favourite hobbies are reading, gardening, camping, hiking, and jigsaw puzzles. To properly nourish our whole selves, I surmise we each need a combination of hobbies that embody various aspects of our lives. For example, we need something active to move our bodies, something to challenge and sharpen our minds, something social to connect us to others, and something peaceful to help us relax.
Gardening is particularly special to me, fulfilling both my active and relaxation needs. I have had a deep affinity for the outdoors and growing things since childhood, heavily influenced by my parents. My dad always tended to the vegetable garden, while my mom creatively landscaped their farm in Southern Ontario.
Working with the earth is a natural lesson in hard work and reward. One morning this spring, I was roaming the backyard with my hot cup of tea, impatiently wondering when my peas would finally begin to sprout. When I noticed a flash of green, I was elated. A single pea shoot was poking proudly out of the soil, and my heart was happy.
However, gardening also requires realistic expectations and acceptance of things entirely outside of our control. Since those peas sprouted, I’ve had to battle hungry birds and mischievous squirrels. Losing plants to hail, insects, and other pests is simply part of the deal.
Gardening in a climate with a short growing season requires flexibility. It forces me to accept that hours of hard work could be thwarted on any given day by Mother Nature. Honestly, if I hadn’t learned to accept that reality, I likely would have quit by now! Yet, despite the frequent challenges, it remains deeply rewarding. Soon enough, I will be eating fresh peas, lettuce, herbs, raspberries, and other delicious food that I managed to nurture, protect, and keep alive.
Happy writing,
Michelle
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