When we tend to our gardens we give our flowers and plants water, the adequate amount of sunlight and possibly fertilizer when needed. Our attention is given with an intention of nourishment and trust that if we do that their own internal mechanisms will do the rest. These plants will in turn blossom and thrive, growing strong and beautiful.
When we neglect our gardens we forget to give them water, we plant them in a place where the amount of sunlight isn't adequate, never fertilize and have very little interest in whether they are being nourished properly. We give very little thought to the importance of all these steps. These gardens may live, but the plants will not thrive. They will not be strong and their true potential beauty will not be revealed.
In the same way, our bodies need the same treatment. What makes us think that we would need any less? The variant is that in addition to all the physical elements, we have cognitive abilities, and to thrive we need to have positive, loving thoughts and actions to fully fulfill what we need, to be all that we can be physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. We need to make sure that all the elements are harmonious in order to thrive. We are no different from our gardens.