Aniyah Zamora shares how gardening and art helped her to learn how to slow down.
Growing up, some of the most important lessons I learned came from watching things grow. Even though I lived in the city, I felt drawn to forests, lakes, and open spaces. Camping trips, weekends at the lake, and long walks outdoors became some of my most memorable moments.
My grandmother encouraged me to slow down, notice what was around me, and see the beauty in things that take time rather than rushing through life. I didn’t have many friends growing up, and I was okay with that. Nature gave me peace and space to think. Over time, that quiet observation carried into my art. Art required the same patience I practiced outdoors.
When I first started, I rushed my work and ended up with unfinished pieces. But when I slowed down, studied shapes, lines, and imperfections, my art improved. I learned that beauty doesn’t happen instantly and isn’t always “perfect.” Every stroke, like every season, needed time. That lesson became even clearer when I started gardening two years ago.
I began my garden to prove I could handle responsibility, expecting everything to grow immediately. I planted seedlings in the wrong seasons and nothing sprouted. It was frustrating, but I realized rushing only leads to failure. Eventually, my garden grew — berries, vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers filling the spaces I had once thought empty.