New Challenges, New Growth This year, we’re trying a few new things. We’re growing heirloom tomatoes, candy cane radishes, and vertically trained zucchini. Our family is excited to see how everything turns out — just like we’re excited to see how another season spent in the community garden will continue to shape us. For us, this isn’t just about food. The digging, planting, and harvesting have taught us the value of being part of something bigger than ourselves and that the best things in life — like friendships, fresh tomatoes, and strong roots — take time to grow.
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so we share techniques and encourage each other. Once the produce starts rolling in, we also share group meals, tossing veggies onto homemade pizzas baked in the farm’s outdoor oven. Of course, gardening comes with its fair share of surprises, and we’ve all learned together through experience — sometimes the hard way. Last year, one of our kids spent months nurturing a corn crop, only to have a storm wipe it out in a single day. We’ve had pests ruin tomatoes, rogue goats destroy plants, and coyotes wreak havoc on the chicken coops. However, these setbacks only strengthen the community and deepen our family’s appreciation for all the work that goes into growing food.
in ways that feel rare today. Our community of fellow gardeners includes adults and a few dozen kids ranging in age from babies to teenagers. We are in this together,
–Kevin and Sierra Bennett
Why We Resist Change — And How to Rewrite the Script
Change is never easy. Our brains have been wired to prioritize safety and predictability, but humans are adaptable creatures, capable of learning new things at any age. The key to embracing change is understanding why we resist it and how to make it work in our favor.
Fear of failure and the unknown is also at play. When our shortcomings feel threatening to us, we resist change to avoid failure. Whether the perceived shortcomings are real or imagined, self-doubt can leave us locked into the familiar, even when we know change could be beneficial. Small Shifts, Big Breakthroughs The trick to expanding our comfort zones is to start small. Making incremental changes gives our nervous systems time to adjust and learn to tolerate new things. So, if technology feels overwhelming, practice one new feature at a time. If you’re trying to improve your diet or general health, swap out one food or add 10 minutes of activity to your day. Small steps create momentum.
Before long, you’re adapting to change without realizing it.
Positivity is also vital. Instead of letting fear hold you back, look at change and challenges as opportunities. When you feel the fear, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this experience?” Engaging positively with the unknown rather than avoiding it helps you shift your mindset about new experiences. Finally, don’t get caught up in seeking perfection over progress. Some days will be easier than others, and we all experience setbacks when trying new things. However, the more we embrace change, the easier it becomes to adapt. And it’s never too late to start.
Comfort Zones and the Fear Factor
If you’re like the rest of us, you have habits that feel like second nature. From how we start our mornings to the foods we eat and the routes we always take to the store, our habits arise from our desire for security. Our brains perceive anything that disrupts our routines as a threat, which keeps us locked into old ways of doing things.
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