I never had a green thumb. In fact, I used to tease that the only reason I was able to keep my kids alive was that they made a lot of noise when they were hungry.  Then, my mother-in-law introduced me to the world of herbs. At first, it was for decorative reasons. Her backyard was magazine-worthy with beds of lavender, paths of sweet woodruff, and a sculpted garden of lamb’s ear, silver king artemisia, and so many more beautiful plants I couldn’t begin to remember them all. She showed me how to make wreaths and swags, how to dry the flowers into potpourri (hey, it was the nineties), and use “dead plants,” as my husband described them, to dress the house. 

I tried. I really did. I learned very early on that the talents my mother-in-law possesses are super-human and one of a kind. Maybe I gave up too easily because of this, but give up I did. Yet there was something about those herbs that really spoke to me. Their beauty was one thing, but returning to nature to give us what we need for remedies, food, and beauty intrigued me. I continued to read all I could and I started my very first herb garden focusing on the basics: sage, basil, parsley, chives, rosemary, and lavender. I watched in fascination as the plants did what most herbs do: they not only grew, they flourished. Despite me. I did not use one leaf from my garden that year. I was afraid to even touch them.

The first time I finally did use something I had grown was when I made a lavender birthday cake for my mother-in-law a few years later. We had a beautifully planned meal that ended in this cake I felt was perfect because it was inspired by her. It would be my luck that my brother-in-law took one bite and found a lavender stem in his mouth. An entire stem! I was mortified. It has been over twenty years since that birthday and I am still asked if I plan on bringing any twig cakes to a party.

 

Today, I continue to plant herbs in my backyard. In fact, we have converted much of our property into beds for herbs, flowers, and vegetables. I harvest them, and we use them throughout the year. This year, I even had a tea bed and a savory bed. The savory was our tried and true favorites, but the tea was to try and make our own brew from scratch. My thumb is not necessarily green though, I must admit that. The plants that flourish are those that border on being weeds or are pretty invasive and hard to kill. But you know what? They give me peace and purpose as I get dirty and sore working the soil. The rewards are that I get to watch life come from a tiny seed. It amazes me every time. 

If you would have said that gardening would be one of my favorite hobbies even five years ago, I think I would have been skeptical. Thankfully, finding and doing something I enjoy has had immeasurable benefits, as it would for you. First, hobbies force you to take some time for yourself. You may choose to do your hobby with other people, yet the act itself is for your pleasure or enjoyment, not to help someone else. Hobbies keep you in better physical health. No groaning is allowed here. It doesn’t mean you have to choose running or yoga as your hobby. Don’t forget this is about something you enjoy. When we do things we enjoy, endorphins are released, which reduces pain, boosts pleasure, and basically makes you feel good. Finally, hobbies help our brains to focus better on other tasks. When we never turn our brains off and are constantly on the move, we can get stressed or overwhelmed. That’s why so many people turn to the television or movies in the evenings when they get home from work. This is a very passive activity that allows the viewer to unplug from reality and the brain to go numb. Yet, when we are participating in an enjoyable hobby with our endorphins high, our brain can remain engaged, but not stressed. It’s an amazing machine that runs in the background as you go about your activity and takes the opportunity to organize things in there. 

Don’t be afraid to try different things. Throw some pottery (that’s what they call the spinning thing, don’t actually toss a plate), knit a hat, scuba dive in as many oceans as you can, become a wine expert. You might be surprised at what brings you joy or at least have fun figuring it out.