This post might be about gardening, but let me start with a story. I don’t know about anyone else, but our road trips end up with some interesting conversations. On our first road trip this summer, my husband randomly blurts out that he thinks we should grow our own fruits and vegetables. This is a very typical “it’s not a good idea until it’s his idea” situation. I grab my phone and immediately pull up Pinterest. I had been waiting for this day to arrive. We talk about what to grow, what to grow in, where in our yard to put them, etc. Now here is where my ADHD kicks in and I go full hyperfocus.
I spent hours researching what grows best in zone 9A. What grows best with cherry tomatoes? I learned about crop rotation and which vegetables shouldn’t be grown after another vegetable. I read about companion planting. As you can see, I sketched what the raised box would look like and figured out how much wood I needed and PVC pipe for the watering system. I knew exactly which seeds I was going to buy. Full. ADHD. Hyperfocus.
Then I let it breathe. I stepped away for a few days from the planning, but my brain was always thinking about it (thanks ADHD). Then my husband says, “Are we sure we want to jump head first into this? What if we start small with one tomato plant? Don’t you already have a pot that we can use?” I felt like my whole world (of gardening) had crumbled. I spent so much time planning and he ends up wanting 1 plant. Sigh.
Set interim goals to get to the ultimate goal
I am 40 years old. I have gone where the wind takes me. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, and a fulfilling career. But what about me? I started searching about finding yourself again and I stumbled upon the 5 year plan or the 10 year plan. I thought about my 15 year plan. I closed my eyes and imagined what I want my life to be like. One of those things, very clearly, is having my own vegetable garden and fruit grove where I can go pick fresh foods each day and eat more closely based on the growing season rather than the grocery store.50
To get to the point of having fruits and vegetables at my finger tips, I have to take the first step. After much reflection, the first step is to grow my first vegetable. There will be triumphs and there will be failures, but as long as I am learning and refining the process I can get there. So, I will plant cherry tomato seeds in the pot that I already own. I will pamper those tomato seeds until they fruit. I will encourage the fruit to grow and ripen. Then, I will taste the fruits of my labor and revel in my first completed goal.
As you’ve probably seen on social media (paraphrased), “We should start referring to age as levels. So when you’re 40 it sounds better than being over the hill.” I’m starting at level 40 and will level up each year and my goals will continue to stretch me and craft the life that I want at level 55.
Read more about my gardening Journey
