Prologue

I believe every human being should be a gardener. Not so much for the ability to grow one's food for survival or to enjoy pretty flowers, but as a spiritual and physical exercise in understanding the essence of life's important secret, a universal law that dictates anything worthwhile to keep requires work, lots of it... and a lifetime of maintenance. To only have an intellectual concept would be moot unless there is an emotional impact for which it must be felt in one's gut.

Maintaining a garden should be a metaphor for almost everything in life. Whatever it is that one builds, be it a relationship, a business, self-growth, or just about anything, like a plant, it always starts with a seed. A thought or an idea must first be manifested. Once rooted, necessary and healthy nutrients must be added to sustain growth. To keep it in tip top shape and in full bloom with vigor in momentum, conscious effort, intelligent choice, and proper actions are the keys to its successful growth and outcome. For once you slack off and neglect, the garden now becomes a sad shabby ghetto. It's deteriorating appearance and unhealthy condition are enough to lose one's interest for now in order to revive to its former glory, it requires double duty. The pain may not be worth the eventual and potential reward as it is way too labor intensive and can be physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. But what is the alternative? Work just enough to get by? To settle would be mediocre. There is nothing wrong with mediocrity just like there's nothing wrong with plain vanilla ice cream or the color beige. Plain vanilla ice cream and the color beige dominate the world because it's safe and non threatening, plus it goes with everything. Thanks to mediocrity, anything spectacularly beyond that is superior. Mediocrity is not living; it's surviving. We all deserve a chance to live beyond survival.

To truly live means to take a chance, stepping away from one's comfort zone and for having the audacity to strap on some balls to go for what you want and to pursue your dream in life. You have nothing to lose except your dream...or there is always mediocrity waiting for you.

So like one's beloved garden, there needs a fertile foundation to bring an enterprise to fruition with an idea, building the structure, loving care, constant motivated upkeep, and hope that all the hard work will yield an abundance of soulful nourishment.