One of my muses, a poet/astrologer, lamented beginning his vegetable garden late this year. Now, he has a fantastic array of organic produce erupting from his garden; This was his formula for success, even when starting your garden late: “The best way to grow bountiful, ripe, healthy vegetables is by applying organic fertilizer, regular watering, impeccable weeding, and steady songs of encouragement.”

It struck me that this is also how to grow a healthy body.

Organic Fertilizer

Even if organic food isn’t on your shopping list, we can all concentrate on eating healthier food. The vitamins, minerals and macronutrients we derive from food is the most important element in building health. Keeping as close as possible to the original food is the goal – whole grains, lean proteins, lots of fruit and vegetables. Simply avoiding processing and the inherent chemicals, additives, preservatives, and high sugar and salt content, can reduce cravings that lead to poor food choices.

Regular Watering

This is one of the easiest lifestyle changes to make. Slowly diminishing the intake of juices, sodas, and high-calorie specialty drinks (whether alcoholic, coffee-type or other) and substituting clean water is a process some people like to do slowly; others make a clean sweep of the refrigerator and just let the liquid calories go. Calories, however, aren’t really the point of regular watering. Every cell in the body is made from water (or whatever liquid you are taking in) and new cells are made on a continual basis with every single cell being replaced at least every 2-3 years. We get a whole new stomach (any size you desire) every 6 months!!!

Do you really want to make fresh new cells from dirty brown chemical water (soda)?

In addition, the body rids itself of waste products continually and the flow of clean water throughout the body helps this process. Can the kidneys “clean” the water for use by the body? Sure, that is what they are supposed to do. But drink only water for a day and see if you notice a difference. Finally, hydration is important for every part of the body to function well. Even the brain works better and is sharper when the body is properly hydrated. Forgoing liquids for just 1 hour can lead to a 10% reduction in brain function.

Impeccable Weeding

Impeccable weeding can be interpreted a number of ways:

1. Weeding out the crap food in your diet, and your house.

2. Weeding out the negative mental thoughts that take us from “That meeting didn’t work out” to “Where’s the nearest buffet?” in a few seconds.

3. Weeding out the negative influences and stressors in life: toxic friends, intrusive family, demanding boss, too-full schedule.

Setting a strong boundary around what is healthy for you, and keeping anything that interferes outside the boundary is a recipe for ultra-success.

Steady Songs of Encouragement

This is the one I love.

Do you whisper sweet nothings to yourself? Or do you wait for a “bad day” and berate yourself?

Do you praise your efforts or are your actions never good enough?

Do you tell yourself “I love you” or consistently point out which of your bodyparts are in need of liposuction?

A steady stream of encouragement from the world would be nice, but it might not always work out that an encouraging person is nearby when you need a word of support or reason.

But YOU are never far from YOU.

YOU can be there ALL THE TIME, no matter what. All it costs is willingness.

Singing sweet nothings.

Trilling steady songs of encouragement.

Belting out bravura.

It doesn’t matter when you start your garden. But you do have to take that first step. And sing.