~3 min read

Character introductions:

Self
The Discerning Decision-maker of the group. Self hears out the perspective of the others and aims to make the most effective and compassionate call

(Past)
Whimsical and hopeful, (Past) often has grand ideas that have not yet met with the limitations of reality

{Present}
Grounded in the here & now, {Present} tries to wrest control over the only moment in which we can create change…this one.

[Future]
With a focus on sustainability and long-term strategy, [Future] aims to simplify the next endeavor with intention and thorough preparation

Tending Our Garden
Addressing Intergenerational Trauma

Today, we gather in our garden to address a plant that’s been with us for generations.
It’s time we truly discuss its impact on our garden and whether it should continue to take up space here.

(This plant has been a part of our landscape forever.
It was handed down to us, a legacy of our ancestors.
It’s hard to imagine our garden without it,
but it’s also hard to ignore the pain it brings)

{Every time I water this plant, I feel the weight of its history.
It’s like nurturing the very thing that stifles our growth.
It’s beautiful in its own right, but it casts a shadow
over new plants we’ve tried to cultivate.}

[We have a responsibility,
not just to carry on everything that was given to us,
but to question its place in our future.
What do we want to pass down to the next generation?
Surely, we aspire to give them a garden where they can thrive, not just survive.]

It’s a tough decision, removing something so deeply rooted in our history.
Yet, compassion for ourselves and future generations demands we reconsider.
What could we nourish in its place that represents healing and growth?

(I know it’s painful.
We’ve tended this plant out of loyalty and respect for where we came from.
Perhaps it’s time to honor our ancestors differently—
by breaking the cycle
and planting something
that symbolizes new beginnings.)

{Let’s choose a plant that we nurture because it brings joy, not obligation.
I want us to feel light when we tend to our garden,
not burdened by the ghosts of past pains.}

[Imagine a garden that’s lush with forgiveness, empathy, and resilience.
Each new plant could represent a quality we wish to cultivate
in ourselves
and our descendants.
Let’s make a conscious choice about our legacy.]

We’ll make this change together.
It’s an act of courage to remove the old and nurture the new.
As we dig up this plant, let’s acknowledge
the pain it represents
and the healing we’re embracing.

(It’s goodbye, then.
Thank you for your lessons,
but it’s time for you to rest now.)

{Here’s to new beginnings, to planting seeds of hope
and watching them grow.
May our garden flourish with the beauty of our healed hearts.}

[With every choice we make, we’re defining the future.
This new plant will grow in a garden
free from the shadows of old pains,
a testament to our strength and compassion.]

As we continue to tend our garden, let’s remember this day—the day we chose what’s healthy and hopeful over what’s habitual. This is how we heal, how we grow, and how we create a legacy worth passing down.

Written by Elise Loprieno
Intention Consultant & LMFT
(In collaboration with a Large Language Model)

Based on the concept of Value Gardens
inspired by the work of Cole Arthur Riley

For more information on Value Gardens,
log in to the free portal of resources
and view Elise’s ~5 minute video