Pruning Your Garden

        When we don't prune in the garden, Nature does it for us through wind, ice. hail, fire, and flood. One way or another, the boughs will be shaped or strengthened. If we don't prune away the stress and plow under the useless in our lives, pain will do it for us. Make no mistake, I think pain is a wretched gardener. Her cuts stun and sting. But after pruning, and preferably voluntary, we're able to discern what's real, what's important, and what's essential for our happiness.

- Sarah Ban Breathnach,