If I asked you what the most popular course at Yale was, you might think of political science or economics. But it turns out that it is none of the more typical programs of study you might think of for a prestigious Ivy League university. Some years back, a psychology professor offered a course called The Science of Well-Being and since the first offering, over five million people have taken the class. If you want to check it out, it is freely available here.
The funny thing is, when you read a summary of the course it won’t tell you anything you probably don’t already know. The biggest takeaway and one of the reasons for its wild popularity is that it is a reminder that most of us are chasing happiness in the wrong places. The course uses research to show that achievement, status, and constant productivity don’t deliver lasting satisfaction. That the things, the stuff that we think will make us happy, usually don’t, at least not long-term. Instead, well-being comes from habits that ground us in the present, foster connection, and create a sense of purpose.
Enter gardening.
I probably don’t have to tell you that even spending a short time planting, watering, or pulling weeds shifts something in you. Your attention narrows in a good way. You’re focused, but calm. This mirrors one of the course’s core ideas: “savoring.” Gardening naturally pulls us out of distraction and into the moment, offering a break from the constant noise of screens and schedules.
The course also highlights how our brains are wired for comparison and endless striving. Gardening disrupts that pattern. Plants don’t measure success the way we do. Growth is slow, seasonal, and often invisible at first. Progress is found in small, tangible moments like a sprout emerging, a bud forming, or a tomato ripening.
There’s also a deeper satisfaction tied to effort. We value what we work for, and gardening makes that visible. Food you’ve grown yourself tastes better not just because it’s fresh, but because you were part of the process.
Connection plays a role too. Whether it’s sharing herbs with a neighbor or swapping tips, gardening creates low-pressure ways to engage with others, and real social connection is something the course identifies as essential to happiness.
Gardening offers what the science points to: presence, patience, and purpose. It’s not a shortcut to happiness, but it is a practice that quietly reinforces what actually makes life feel good, season after season.
Yep, the garden is an amazing place for connection, and we’ve got a few fun things coming up to jumpstart your practice of well-being. This Saturday is our monthly Yoga in the Garden, at 10 am. Come out and enjoy another practice that encourages connection and savoring the moment. And don’t forget that Mother’s Day is coming up! If you want a great opportunity to connect with Mom, bring her out for our Mother’s Day Sip & Shop on Thursday, May 7th. We’ll be open a little later from 5– 7 pm, serving tasty mocktails, and all of the beautiful flowers of spring will be on display. Stroll the boardwalk and enjoy some time with Mom. Want to take your connection a little deeper? Get tickets here for Singing Bowls Meditation on Thursday, May 7th at 6 pm (during the Sip & Shop).
Get out in your garden, spend some time with Mom, and savor the moments that create real, lasting well-being.
