My Grandfather’s Garden
As I continue to reflect on my trip back east and on the regenerative gathering I attended, I suddenly realized my grandfather was a genuine regenerative practitioner. At the home I grew up until I was about 11-years old, my grandfather kept a beautiful garden in our backyard. We had a Fuyu persimmon tree that bore tons of fruits in the fall (always my favorite), fig and plum trees. The garden always had seasonal flowers. I often proudly brought some fresh cut flowers to school to decorate the classroom.
Once I started thinking about him, I am increasingly curious about this man I hardly knew. He was evidently a very progressive thinker in his time for sure. What I know is he was an Esperanto instructor and a prominent social worker. While he was not a warm and fuzzy grandfather, I remember seeing him in the garden caring for the plants and birds. He was quite health conscious and into some “weird” eating habit in my single-digit year-old’s eyes, but now I look back to realize he was probably utilizing natural remedies.
This realization about my grandfather is almost confirming my suspicion this “regenerative practice” I’m trying to cultivate as I develop my real estate business around is to go back to learn from the way we, humans, lived before. I’m learning about terms and concepts like permaculture, biophilia, and biomimicry. For thousands of years humans co-existed with the nature in reciprocity, which we slowly lost in the age of industrialization and technology. It’s not that we have to go into the jungle or desert to live like cavemen again, but to re-learn how to coexist with our environment in a reciprocal manner feels like the right thing to do.
It also brings me back to the mindfulness practice. Without being aware of our inner climate as well as outer environment, we cannot regenerate. I noticed I’m spending more time meditating and journaling since I returned from my trip to cultivate my capacity to be in touch with myself in a deeper and more honest way; therefore, in more tune with my surroundings and nature. And it feels like a tall order. Yet, I’m on this path and not looking back.