The Two Gardens: A Story on Choosing Joy

There was once a woman named Leena who lived in a quiet village surrounded by golden fields and towering trees. She had two gardens, side by side—one filled with vibrant flowers and sweet fruits, the other overtaken by weeds and thorns.

Every morning, she would stand between them, unsure where to begin her work. The beautiful garden brought her joy, yet she often felt drawn to the overgrown one, frustrated by the thorns and tangled roots.

One day, an old friend visited her and found her sighing at the mess. “Why do you spend so much time looking at the weeds?” her friend asked.

Leena frowned. “Because they bother me. I want to fix them.”

Her friend smiled and pointed to the flourishing garden. “And what about this? The flowers bloom, the fruit ripens, yet you barely notice them. Why not spend more time here?”

Leena was silent for a moment. She realized she had been so focused on what was wrong, that she had ignored what was already thriving.

That day, she made a choice. Instead of waking up and worrying about the weeds, she greeted the flowers, watered the fruits, and tended to the beauty that already existed. She still pulled a few weeds when needed, but she no longer let them consume her thoughts.

And something magical happened—the more she focused on what was growing, the more it flourished.

Lesson of the Story:

Joy is a choice. Every day, we can focus on what is missing, what is wrong, what frustrates us—or we can choose to nurture what is already blooming in our lives.

🌿 What garden will you tend to today? 🌿