There is a profound, quiet truth hidden in the way nature operates, a truth that Dogen Zenji captures so beautifully. When we look at a garden, we see a world of intention and lack of intention living side by side. A delicate rose may lose its petals to the wind, and it breaks our hearts because we cherish its beauty. Yet, in that same soil, a stubborn weed pushes through the dirt with an unstoppable force, indifferent to whether we admire it or not. This reminds us that life does not wait for our permission or our affection to move forward. Nature simply is, and it carries both the fragile and the fierce in its very essence.

In our own human experience, we often try to exert control over what we love and what we dislike. We pour all our energy into nurturing our dreams, our relationships, and our joys, hoping they will stay perfect and permanent. We feel a sense of injustice when something beautiful fades or when a difficult situation, much like a weed, begins to take root in our lives. We find ourselves asking why the things we cherish are so fragile, while the things that cause us stress or discomfort seem so resilient and persistent. It is a natural part of being human to want to curate our existence so that only the flowers remain.

I remember a time when I was trying to tend to my little mental garden, focusing only on the happy thoughts and pushing away anything that felt messy or difficult. I treated my sadness like a weed that needed to be eradicated immediately. But the more I fought it, the more it felt like it was choking my joy. It wasn't until I realized that the 'weeds' of my difficult emotions were just as much a part of my growth as the 'flowers' of my happiness that I found peace. I had to learn to sit with the uncomfortable parts of life, recognizing that they are part of the ecosystem of my soul, just as much as the bright, easy moments.

Accepting this duality can be incredibly liberating. When we stop fighting the inevitable presence of the weeds, we can redirect that energy toward truly appreciating the flowers while they are in bloom. We can learn to respect the strength of the persistent things and the vulnerability of the beautiful things. Life is a complex tapestry of what we choose to nurture and what simply persists on its own.

Today, I invite you to take a deep breath and look at your own life without judgment. Instead of trying to pull every weed in sight, try to notice one beautiful flower that is currently blooming in your world. Acknowledge the difficult parts, too, but try to see them as part of a larger, natural cycle. How might your day change if you allowed both the lovely and the lowly to simply exist?