Are We Imperfectly Perfect? A Lesson from an Unmaintained Garden

by Dr Abhishek Gilara

We spend so much of our lives trying to bring everything “in order” — aligning our homes, schedules, routines, and even gardens — to match a version of perfection that we have defined. But is it truly perfect? Or are we just trying to control what was already beautiful in its raw, untouched form?

Recently, during a visit to one of India’s finest wellness centres, I noticed something peculiar. In the central lobby, there was a vast glass wall overlooking a garden — not the usual manicured one, but wild, natural, even “unmaintained” by human standards. It puzzled me at first. Every other corner of the retreat was picture-perfect, yet here lay a patch of nature left to its own rhythm.

Curious, I sat and simply watched. What I saw changed me.

Birds fluttered in and out. Insects buzzed freely. Little creatures moved about as if celebrating their right to exist — unbothered, unharmed, and unjudged. It was alive. Far more vibrant than any geometrically trimmed hedge I’ve ever seen.

That “unmaintained” garden wasn’t neglected — it was preserved. It was perfect in the eyes of nature, not in the eyes of control.

In that moment, I realised: we often try to fix what’s not broken. We force ourselves, others, and even the world around us to fit a design that pleases the eye but numbs the soul.

So the next time you see something wild, raw, or seemingly imperfect, pause. Let it speak to you. Because sometimes, the most beautiful forms of life are those untouched by our need to control them.

Let nature be. Let yourself be. Maybe that’s what real wellness is.