The Common Garden
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Hello to all our friends. We are incredibly happy that you are here, reading these lines. The idea behind our blog community is one that refuses to surrender to the toxic criticism of social media, to the culture of constant haste, and to the notion that the less you read, the more your brain is rewarded. The very least we can do to honour all of you who visit our little corner of the internet is to create a beautiful garden and invite you for tea, coffee, or anything else you would like to enjoy in the place you see in the photograph.
What better way to begin than with your own ideas, comments, and thoughts that you shared with us this week! Debbie left a lovely comment on our post A Morning That Felt Like a Holiday:
"...when you have a child of your own, it definitely opens your eyes to the way you've been loved by your own parents or how your parents can love your child so much."
And of course, our first behavioural response to raising children is often shaped by the images and experiences we carry from our own parents or caregivers. Even the negative ones. That's where a strong foundation is needed to separate which elements were beneficial to you while growing up and which ones need to be changed or simply adapted.
If someone were to ask me what love is, I would probably point to the example of most parents: unconditional, self-sacrificing, and willing to face any difficulty without expecting anything in return. For more thoughts and ideas from Debbie, be sure to visit her wonderful blog, Millie's Cozy Cottage Life: https://milliescozycottagelife.blogspot.com/
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In the next comment left on our post A Day in the Village (Part Two: We Went Back), Ann Thompson shares a wonderful observation from her experience over the years:
"Bloggers are a wonderful bunch and I've made some wonderful friends over the years."
Without any intention of creating an exclusive group, I completely agree about the uniqueness of the dedicated bloggers who remain. There is a strong and genuine form of communication here, without any desire to outshine one another, without the need to chase likes, and without using others as an outlet for our own frustrations.
People come here and devote real time, valuable time. They contribute, they create, they work in their own way, and they take the time to read. Their opinion is not just a simple comment, it becomes a continuation of your story. Just as we are sitting together around a garden, sharing a conversation on these benches, every comment adds something meaningful to the discussion and helps the story grow.
I wasn't able to find a link to Ann's blog, but if she keeps a space of her own online, we will gladly add it here as soon as she reads this post and shares it with us. Thank you, Ann!
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And of course, a life without mishaps would hardly be a life at all! After my own careless mistake of leaving the keys inside the house and locking us out (fortunately, my mother had a spare key), Granny Marigold shared this story about her son:
" Our youngest son has locked himself out of his car on more than one occasion. Fortunately we have spare keys for his car."
I would rather not imagine finding yourself in a hurry to leave for work, a romantic date, or somewhere important, only to discover that you cannot even use your car. Gone are the days when you could simply saddle up your horse and ride proudly toward your destination. Perhaps this is one of the small drawbacks of modern technology. No horse ever needed a key, just a little water, some food, and a road to follow.
To continue enjoying Granny Marigold's wonderful thoughts and stories, be sure to visit her lovely corner here: https://grannymarigold.blogspot.com/.
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Recently, Greece celebrated Holy Spirit Day, a day of spirituality during which everything comes to a standstill and most places remain closed. Through our post The First Breath of Summer, we had the opportunity to read some of your favourite Bible passages that guide and inspire you in your daily lives. The verses below were shared by two of our readers, Debbie & Karen.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
- Matthew 11:28-30
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
- Philippians 4:13
For those who do not read the Bible or do not embrace Christian spirituality, you may still find meaning in the deeper message behind these words. And if not, we would love to hear about passages, quotes, poems, or writings from any source that give you strength and encouragement in life. To explore Karen's beautiful work and thoughts, be sure to visit her blog here: https://lifeisgood-smile.blogspot.com/.
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This week, we found ourselves thinking about things and habits from the past that we would love to bring into the present. One of them, of course, was the way we used to use the internet. In our post The Laws of Physics and Other Things, we asked whether there are things from the past that you would like to keep alive today and, most importantly, why. The comments shared by Linda's Relaxing Lair & Acorn Hollow beautifully capture the heart of this discussion.
"The reason I don't have many things from the past is because I don't feel an emotional connection to "things", if this makes sense."
"I bring my grandmother's cooking with me."
How wonderful it is to read different perspectives. And all of them are equally valuable, because life is complex, layered, and colourful. As Linda points out, holding on too tightly to things from the past can sometimes become emotionally burdensome. On the other hand, a grandmother's recipes recipes that make it feel as though she is still there every time you take a bite, and which are lovingly passed down from generation to generation carry a different kind of value.
These are two very different approaches, yet both have something meaningful to offer our lives. Truthfully, I would love to try one of those recipes myself, while also learning to let go of a few habits and thoughts from the past. Thank you both for sharing your thoughts with us.
If you would like to read more of the wonderful ideas and reflections from these readers, you can visit their blogs here: Linda's Relaxing Lair: https://lindasrelaxinglair.blogspot.com/ & Acorn Hollow: https://acornhollow.blogspot.com/.
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Speaking of memories and reflections from the past, as we also did on our post The Laws of Physics and Other Things, a little further up we come across a comment from Margaret D about childhood memories and the experience of raising children:
"Little children are so fascinating, and we all can learn from them and it also brings back good memories of our own childhood..."
For those of you who are parents, there is something truly magical about this experience, though at times it can also be a little confusing. When I sit with my son and his toys, when we play ball together, talk, or watch children's programmes, my inner child feels the same joy as if I were in his place. And in a way, I am.
Yet at the same time, the role of a parent surrounds you with a sense of responsibility and care that no longer allows you to be a child yourself. Still, for those brief moments when you do feel like a child again, they can become the most beautiful moments of the day, just as they once were. Thank you, Margaret, for sharing this lovely thought with us. Discover the beauty of Margaret's quiet everyday life by visiting her blog here: https://whiteangels-thoughts.blogspot.com/
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And so, little by little, we arrive at the end of today's gathering. Our drinks have been enjoyed down to the very last sip, surrounded by nature and the peaceful setting around us. And that is the magic of blogs: sharing the lives of people from all around the world, each one living their own unique experiences. Some people are fortunate enough to enjoy nature right outside their door because of where they live, while others may need to travel a little farther to find it. And for those living in cities, perhaps the challenge is to bring a little of nature into their own space.Two beautiful comments on this subject were shared by River and Anette:
"...but now I live in a small flat with plum trees outside and no room for more trees."
"...we can keep certain habits alive. For me, spending time in nature, reading books and visiting thoughtful blogs are among those treasures worth preserving."
It is wonderful to see how nature finds its way into our lives and becomes part of our moments of rest and reflection. Not in the commercial sense that is often spoken about these days, but simply through living in the environment that feels natural to us. I have lived in both urban environments and quieter places, in Greece and in England. One of the most challenging experiences was living in Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, where in the city centre you could see little beyond apartment buildings.
To reach the beautiful waterfront, you often had to walk a considerable distance or rely on public transport.The calmness and inner peace that we need in order to write, talk, reflect, and simply feel well often begin with the way we live, but also with how we shape the conditions of our everyday lives, wherever we may be. Thank you both for sharing your perspective on nature with us.
You can enjoy more of River's thoughts and experiences here https://river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/ and Anette's here: https://neuer-gartentraum.blogspot.com/
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It is time for our gathering to come to an end. We truly hope that you find something meaningful in our little home on the internet. We look forward to meeting again next week, and we hope that you will be there with us. Thank you for your company, and please know that even if we are not always able to include every reader in this column, we will continue to reply to every comment with the same interest, care, and appreciation.
Now it is time to wash all the plates and cups we used here in the Common Garden... although that may well be the most demanding part of the day ;-)
Mary & Chris
If you read all the way to the end, thank you. We would genuinely love to hear your thoughts, memories, or feelings in the comments. And if you ever feel like writing to us more personally, you can always send us a letter at:
✉️ unplug.thrive@gmail.com
— Mary & Chris
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