Embracing the Journey of Writing and Gardening:
Cultivating Emotional Empowerment and Resilience
Write it, read it, edit it, repeat. These principles have guided us throughout the creation of the Third Edition of You Are a Gardener®. Whether writing a book, poem, essay, recipe, or any other composition, reading it aloud significantly enhances the editing process. After making necessary edits, go through the process all over again. When you think you’re finished, start over once more. Sharing your work with a close friend, family member, or colleague can also be incredibly beneficial.
We recommend ‘sleeping on it’, if time allows. Sometimes stepping away and returning with fresh eyes helps you catch overlooked details, especially when preparing for publication. The more people review your work, the better. You’ll be surprised by the number of edits we’ve made on our Third Edition (coming soon).
During our assemblies and author visits, we love to connect with children and students by sharing our writing journey and encouraging self-publishing efforts. You Are a Gardener® was self-published in 2017 because we didn’t want to wait. Establishing the right connections with editors and publishers can be a lengthy process, and we felt our book needed to be shared to help sow the seeds of emotional empowerment and resilience among gardeners of all ages. Inspired by Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan during their childhood, we witnessed how quickly our family transformed weeds into seeds. This journey motivated us to embrace a mindset rooted in gratitude, empathy, kindness, and respect, ultimately leading us to plant our own seeds and publish our book.
Today, You Are a Gardener® has blossomed into a cherished resource for families, educators, and young readers alike. Our mission remains steadfast: to nurture a new generation of emotionally empowered gardeners. Through our book, our #PullYourWeeds® Blog, and our school assemblies & educational programs we aim to equip gardeners of all ages with the ‘gardening tools’ they need to help navigate the weeds (life's challenges) with grace and resilience.
Our community of gardeners continues to grow, each member bringing their unique experiences and insights, enriching the collective wisdom of our journey. As we embark on the next chapter of You Are a Gardener, we invite you to join us. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a young gardener just starting to plant your first seeds, there's always room to grow. Together, we can create a world where emotional well-being flourishes, and every gardener, no matter how small, thrives with the vibrant colors of compassion, kindness, respect, empathy, and hope.
And always remember gardeners, write it, read it, edit it, repeat...and just keep growing! The journey of writing & gardening is a continuous process, one that requires patience, dedication, and confidence. By sharing our stories and supporting each other, we cultivate a community rich in understanding and resilience.
Thank you for being a part of our garden. We look forward to growing with you, one seed at a time. Stay connected, stay inspired, and most importantly, keep pulling those weeds and planting seeds of positivity. Happy gardening!
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