
It probably won’t surprise you that I’ve been thinking a lot about growth lately. More specifically, regrowth. After all, I’m a gardener. And one of the things I’ve spent a lot of time doing lately is regrowing vegetables. It’s not only a cost-effective way to eat well; it’s also fascinating to watch the stub of a vegetable become yet another vegetable. The same, and yet different. Also not all that surprising is that the regrowth always begins at the ‘heart’ of the stub.
I’ve been experiencing regrowth of my own, and it’s made me think about dreams. My daughter mentioned the other day that I demonstrated a particularly good ‘mom moment’. It was in a conversation about how, when she needed to step away from college, I just said, ok, let’s do what you need to do. That she could always go back. This, in direct opposition to the usual admonitions that one must always finish what one starts and one will never go back once an endeavor is laid aside undone.
I’m living proof that is simply not true. Left college at twenty years of age, due to life having other plans for me and my family. Got my degree at forty-eight. Fought my way out of wheelchairs and braces more than once. Started my life over with nothing four times. I could keep going but you probably have the point of this now.
'Bloom where you are planted' is a well-known adage. I would add, 'trim those roots and regrow where you’re planted, over and over again'. Dreams do come true, with hard work and a lot of pruning. Get out those garden shears and get started! Your heart is ready.