Every month brings special offerings. Symbolic Passover seders and sunrise Easter services are attended and celebrated this month. Earth Day is also observed with eco-friendly fairs and events. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, warmer temperatures and sunnier skies arrive calling us outside to play and engage in spring activities. Walking, hiking, and biking are just a few to enjoy. Hillsides are becoming greener, flowers are blossoming, and gardens are springing to life! And if you’re a fan of America’s favorite pastime, baseball season is underway, too. Ah, it’s April. Hooray! A new month also means a new mindfulness activity for me. I’ve chosen this one based on two trips we have planned in April. Knowing travel is synonymous with the unexpected, it’ll give me the chance to practice acceptance without judgment, and being present in the face of the unknown. But first, let me tell you about my experience weeding through March.
From my journal: March 3, 2026, Newbury Park, California
“…once I got going, I didn’t want to stop! I planned to be weeding for 20 minutes, was out there for over an hour…lost track of time, good progress!”
The first day I stepped into my Zen garden with a hand rake, knee cushion, gloves, and bucket, I was focused on weeding with intent. My aim was to connect with nature in a hands-on way. I hoped the rhythm of the work would turn this chore into something meditative. Something that would help me be in the here and now, centered, and grounded.
At first glance, all I could see were weeds popping up everywhere. My pink geraniums were overgrown and leggy. And tangled green vines were strangling flowers and succulents. Totally overwhelmed, I started in one small area. After a few breaths, I knelt, slipped on my gloves, and began loosening the creepers, shoots, and grasses with my tool. Traffic from a busy street nearby, birds in the trees, and an airplane flying overhead reminded me that I was outside. Earthy aromas emanated from the plants rooted in the ground and in various pots and containers. Feeling too bulky, within minutes I took off my gloves and laid them aside. A good choice. The weathered pebbles and rocks were smooth in my hands, the underlying dirt was soft, and the hardy weeds yielded their toughness as I plucked and tossed them into my bucket. At the end of that gardening session and each one thereafter, I took time to tidy up the plants, then refreshed the area watering it with a fine mist.
What I discovered about weeding was that it was instantly gratifying! Getting to the root of and extracting each weed left the landscape clearer so that the plants, trees, bushes, my bench, and even my Buddha statue could shine. While working, I noticed thoughts coming and going without any of them demanding my attention. So freeing! And when I finished tending to my garden each time, the space looked and felt so well cared for and vibrant. The next time weeding beckons, I’ll remember the pleasing aesthetic, physical, and meditative aspects of this experience, and I’ll gladly accept the task at hand!
This month I am thinking of the proverb, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry”. This line taken from the “To a Mouse” poem by Robert Burns suggests that regardless of careful preparation, plans can fall apart due to circumstances beyond one’s control. In my experience, this most often occurs when traveling. Maybe you agree. Flights are delayed, hotel reservations get mixed up, items are forgotten at home, luggage gets lost, and the weather you counted on, well it changes. Ov vey! The possibilities for mishaps are endless. Even though, we are ready to hit the road!
Our first adventure will take us to Paso Robles, a California town just three hours north, to meet friends and celebrate one of their milestone birthdays. Catching up, golfing, touring around town, wine tasting, and dining out are on agenda. What fun! Our second trek will bring us to St. George, Utah where we will hike trails in two national parks, Bryce Canyon and Zion. Bringing our mountain bikes along, we will also take advantage of a few other recreation areas. Yay!
This is what’s been mapped out, anyway. But what to do if things don’t go as planned? Knowing how I tend to get flustered, I’ve come up with a few coping strategies. First, I’ll let go of my expectations. I always have a Must Do list when I travel, but I’ll try to be looser with a schedule, and be more open to alternative ideas. Second, I’ll drop comparisons. This happens when I revisit a place, but I’ll try greeting everything with a “beginner’s mind” as if I am experiencing it for the first time. And third, I’ll practice additional mindfulness techniques. These include carving out time at the start, end, and a few times during the day, to pause, scan my body for tension, and take deep breaths. And if, or should I say when, challenges arise, I’ll remember to stay in the moment, take in the sensory details, and simply observe what’s going on. If things need to pivot and decisions have to be made, at least I’ll be coming from a calm place.
As always, I’ll record my experiences and will share them with you next month. I’m looking forward to these getaways and especially approaching travel differently, as I expect the unexpected.
A Journal Journey 