What’s Your Secret Garden?
Good Morning Everyone,
It has been a nice long weekend and really needed. I slept in on Saturday and Sunday. Today I got up and walked my 2 miles around the neighborhood. It was beautiful and cool. During that time I talk to God a lot. I express my worries, concerns and I try to remember to give praise reports during that time as well.
Last week while I was cleaning my loft/office I started staring at my bookshelf. My eyes landed on Fiona Ferris’s book Thirty Chic Days. I wrote about this book several times here on the blog. I decided to take it to work to read it while on my lunch break. My eyes landed on the chapter called, “Create and Guard your Secret Garden”.
My sitting room at home
Fiona said, “Your secret garden is where you dream of how beautiful and successful your life will be. It holds safe all those plans and thoughts that you might think others will make fun of or scoff at and tell you to “get real” about, but you know better; dreaming of an enchanting future makes you feel happy and inspired”.
I know I have this “secret garden”. My morning walks have become a secret garden. It’s when I talk to God and express my feelings. I am so free during my morning walks. No one is around and it’s quiet. It’s a great time for me to talk with the Father in heaven.
My lunch breaks have become a secret garden. I take that time to read other blogs, read books, journal, shop, send emails and gain inspiration for the blog. This is also a time when I enjoy my beautiful lunch. I set a place on my desk and enjoy eating.
photo via Victoria Magazine
Other places for me that I have designated as my secret garden are my front porch, my sitting room, the blog, the boutique, honestly anywhere I am I try to create this. Fiona also said that spending time with a great book could be your secret garden. Other tips that she gave in her book were “mindful secret gardens”. She said that setting an intention is a great way to be mindful. She gave the example of “ahead of time you decide that you won’t be snacking from all the bowls of sweets and nibbles around, that you will sip your drink elegantly, and that you will have only one serving at the dinner buffet. You’ve also decided that you won’t be drawn into any arguments or family drama, as well as speaking positively and not gossiping.”
I am sure many of us have done this before. Set a mindful intention of not overeating and gossiping. I know I have.
photo credit: Aerin Launder Instagram
There are so many benefits to having a “secret garden”. It’s a world that you create and a space that you enjoy. I love my secret gardens! I am sure that many of you have them. What are your secret gardens? Are any of you willing to share? Put it in the comments section below. Let’s share our beautiful pleasures with one another. Have a great Monday!
My secret garden…like Aerin in the photo you shared, my vanity table is probably the single spot in my apartment that is a full reflection of everything that is important and special to me. When I’m sitting there my world shifts to this beautiful place. It’s so comforting. I pray there, worship there, my budding pink depression glass collection is there. I take care of myself there, my essential oils are there, my pink and white striped Mary Kay mug is there (thank you for sharing that I found one local on ebay😁). To a someone else looking at the space, it’s unassuming girly table of potions and lotions. It’s so much more, iit’sa treasured space. I will have to get this book, sounds like an interesting read.
Oh I love a good vanity. It says a lot about a person’s world. Especially a woman. That’s another reason why I included the photo of Aerin. This photo screamed “secret garden”.
You found a Mary Kay cup? How fantastic! I do hope that you enjoy it! Thank you for sharing your secret garden!
Hello Mrs. Shockley,
My secret garden is my deck in the nicer weather. It’s green and lush out there, and the sounds of our creek just lull my mind and open the doors for creative thoughts. This usually takes place between 6-7am before the family awakens. In the Winter months, my kitchen island or French desk takes the place of outdoors. I light a candle and journal/plan by candle light. My other secret gardens are your blog, Pintrest, Victoria Magazine, and many other books that inspire me to dream and create beautiful visions for life.
Sounds wonderful! Awww thank you so much for including my blog. That’s a huge compliment Mya thank you! I would love to see your french desk someday.
I am so glad to learn about everyone’s secret garden. It’s wonderful to hear how other women enjoy their world.