Yard Work: A Source of Pleasure

Fresh air, sunshine (an excellent natural source of vitamin D), and exercise speak for themselves. They are extremely beneficial to good health - great for mind, body, and soul. Working in the yard will provide an abundance of all three.

The results of a well-tended yard are quite evident in colorful and/or fragrant garden beds, vegetable gardens ripe with bounty, beautiful shrubs and trees, and healthy lawns, lush, green, and free of unsightly weeds.

You can find pleasure, take pride in the fruits of your labor, and have a great deal of fun working in your yard. Besides mowing the lawn, digging in the dirt, watering, fertilizing, mulching, trimming, and deadheading, enjoy the chirping of birds, the sighting of colorful butterflies, the perfumed scent of rose bushes, the unmistakable fragrance of lavender, and the pungent aromas of the herb garden.

Unlike sitting for hours on end in front of a computer or perched lazily in front of television, yard work affords the opportunity for social interaction with neighbors (if you so desire) and enjoyment of the beautiful outdoor space that you have created or enhanced. Burning calories in the yard provides a sense of unsurpassed fulfillment, mental and physical rejuvenation, and exhilaration. There is something about Mother Earth that provides a sense of tranquility and contentment.

Be thankful to have a space of your own. Take pride in home ownership and make your yard the showcase of the neighborhood. You will reap many rewards for doing so, one of which is great pleasure.