Why "Tough Garlic?"

A friend of mine, in a casual conversation about our families, mentioned a Buddhist uncle who planted a garden and made a conscious decision to cultivate “tough garlic” and other vegetables. His plan to do this was to actively not weed the garden; he figured the plants that survived and weren't choked out by the weeds would be stronger and as a result richer, healthier, and overall tastier. The garlic survived and every year became stronger and more fragrant. Some people allow the negative events that take place in their lives to wreck them; I choose to let those moments make me tougher, smarter, and more capable: tough garlic. There is beauty amidst the weeds.