Not Everything Needs to Be Fixed

Letting go of the pressure to constantly improve—on the land, and in ourselves.

I used to walk through my garden and only see what needed fixing. Weeds to pull. Plants to stake. Pests to manage. Edges to tidy. It’s easy to get into that mindset—where every “imperfection” is a problem waiting for you to jump in.

But here’s the thing: nature doesn’t operate like that.

Permaculture reminds us that ecosystems self-correct. Sometimes, that patch of weeds is protecting the soil. That fallen branch becomes habitat. That “mess” is actually doing something useful… if you step back and let it.

I've been thinking about how that lesson applies to veterans—especially those of us rebuilding life after service.

There’s this constant internal pressure to do something about everything.

To fix ourselves.

Improve ourselves.

Be more productive, more healed, more squared away.

But what if that mindset is the problem?

🌿 Letting Nature (and Ourselves) Be

In permaculture, the principle of “observe and interact” teaches us to slow down before reacting.

To watch.

To notice patterns.

To let the land show us what it actually needs—rather than assuming we know best.

How often do we give ourselves that kind of grace?

Sometimes, what looks broken just needs time.

Sometimes, what seems messy is just in the middle of a transformation.

Sometimes, nothing is actually wrong at all.

And sometimes… we’re not the problem.

🧠 For veterans, that might mean:

• Taking a breath before trying to “fix” something inside you

• Recognizing that rest, stillness, and grief aren’t weaknesses

• Giving your body and your mind space to be without judgment

• Letting the garden do its thing—and letting yourself do the same

I’m trying to stop fixing things that aren’t broken. That includes parts of myself.

I’m learning that not everything needs a solution. Some things just need space. Time. Soil. Sunlight.

What’s something in your life that looked “messy” but turned out to be exactly what you needed?

What’s one thing you’ve stopped trying to fix?

💚 Come grow with us

We’re creating spaces where veterans can just be. No pressure to perform. No pressure to fix. Just a chance to reconnect—with nature, with each other, with yourself.

• 🌱 Coffee in the Garden. Every Thursday in Fullerton.

• 🌎 Hands-on healing and skill-building in Costa Rica this summer.

• 💸 Help us grow—donate or share our story if you believe in healing rooted in the land.

We’re not here to fix you. We’re here to grow together.

👉 https://www.vitalrootsfoundation.org