A View From the Garden

I was watching Goldie Hawn on the Dr. Oz show talk about her new book, Ten Mindful Minutes. I subscribe to the theory that we need to take time to let our minds rest. When we are under stress (who isn't) and busy with any number of things in our lives, we sometimes just need to stop, if only for 10 minutes. The brain needs rest just as our bodies do, and taking 10 minutes to let everything go and just BE is a necessity.

Dr. Oz followed up Goldie's suggestions by showing pictures of how the brain responds to meditation/mindfulness by actually strengthening certain parts. We all know that illnesses can occur from being over-stressed.

So, long story short, I took some downtime this week (from all the social media--forgive me peeps for seeming to ignore you) to recoup my energies in my garden. Here are some pictures:

First ripe tomato: (deliciously enjoyed in salad the day it was picked)

I call this our hummingbird tree (don't know the scientific name). The hummingbirds come early and stay late to enjoy the honey. I love watching their antics. They are very territorial and will dive-bomb unwanted visitors.

Before the weather turns deadly around here (in the 100s), I like to sit under the arbor, enjoy my plants and read.

All spring I work to pull weeds, re-pot, clean up dead plants that didn't make it through the winter until I can just sit and enjoy this environment for a while.

I added a pathway last year and the plants are coming along nicely.

With cactus at the end of the pathway.....






and herbs all around....



. . .rosemary (with pots of tomatoes on left)




. . .and oregano (I use a lot of it in cooking and this plant has been with me for years).










Of course there are the garden guardians:

Saint Francis       and       the sun god.









And even my personal guardian (Buddy ) who sits near me ceaselessly (he recently had his long Lhasa Apso coat clipped for the summer).

You can tell he's sweet, right?
He is just as he looks.



But enough of my relaxation--now you go find a spot --10 minutes to let go of all the stress and anxiety.

Not everyone has a yard garden. So where and how do you relax (Yoga, gardening, exercising, hiking)?

No cheating by telling me reading. I'm talking about not using the mind to do something--I'm talking about stopping the mind for a while and not thinking (10 minutes a day can make a difference in physically strengthening your brain).  Do you?