It is very easy to think of ourselves like a machine; full of moving parts and oil with mysterious gearing systems and occasional odd noises and clunks. This rather mechanical approach is fairly common within the medical community; an orthopaedic surgeon who taught us described orthopaedics as carpentry. Cut the old bit out and stick a new bit in, glue it all together and bish, bash bosh you are good to go! 
Clients come in and often talk about themselves in mechanical terms, something has slipped, twisted or stuck.It(!) feels rusty or “I feel like my neck is balancing on a nail”. As I said in a previous newsletter the language we use about ourselves is very pertinent. The body as a machine metaphor is pretty prevalent and we can feel mechanically compromised, it is also can be easier to understand. Thinking about things in linear terms, fix this bit and that bit won’t hurt anymore, stretch this and I’ll move more easily. Just to digress to stretching, we are all guilty of giving people linear stretching exercises but how often to we work in straight lines? Movements are complex and there is an argument for sinuous movements.
A  more accurate way to view ourselves is as a garden rather than a machine; what does that conjure up for you? Are you well tended or a bit of an overgrown jungle? What is your soil like? Are you colourful with plants or full of fruit and veg or maybe a bit of both? Or have you no idea? 
Gardening is subject to so many factors, soil type and quality, aspect, shade, wind, weather, marauding cats, slugs or pigeons. Then add what you want from the space, it would be difficult to create a Mediterranean garden on a north facing plot for example. Also things happen, my garden looks sheltered but it’s a wind tunnel, I slightly dread the winter gales effect on my fences. I also have a perennial problem with bindweed, we get hail storms or not enough rain. How resilient is your garden? It also points to the fact that even if you do everything by the book stuff happens that we cannot control. You may choose to go pesticide free but your neighbour may not. In the same way we can choose to eat as healthily as possible but you can never completely avoid added herbicides and pesticides. 
Gardens respond to attention, planting things in the right soil and aspect; checking your soil type what does it need? Feeding and watering your plants, pulling out the weeds taking care of them. Plus, enjoying the fruits of your labours either by sitting in the garden or harvesting the veg.
Our health is subject to so many factors, genetics, accidents, diseases, whether we take care of ourselves feeding, exercising, resting and enjoying ourselves. Similar to a garden the more we pay attention to ourselves the more resilient we are. Trying to find the right work that suits your skills, the right amount of sleep, food and socialising. Paying kindly attention to yourself the healthier you will be. This doesn’t mean obsessing about yourself or worrying about every little thing; it also doesn’t mean following the latest fad and trend. 

What is right for you?

The other major element is time if you have perennials in your garden you will know that they can take a few years to come to fruition. Remember the seasons, we may well feel a little less active in the winter and raring to go in the spring. So don’t be in too big a hurry, give yourself time and wait to feel and see your blossoming.

Happy Gardening