It's almost spring, the dawning of the season!
Life begins in darkness. Pressed beneath the surface, surrounded by soil and nutrient, there is only stillness and a blueprint. But deep within, something stirs. A seed, not much larger than the dust around it, begins to awaken. It does not know what lies above or what awaits beyond its shell. It only knows the pull, the quiet command to push upward, to seek something more.
The first stretch is slow. A curious root ventures downward, anchoring in unseen depths, while a tender shoot curls toward an unseen sky. The earth is both the cradle providing shelter and the first barrier of entry into the world unknown. The root cap and apical meristem run in opposite directions into the unfamiliar, driven by a natural charge to fill their role—one seeking stability, the other chasing light. It is not an easy ascent, but growth demands challenging the status quo, pressing onward despite the weight of the world above.
Finally, it emerges—a delicate life meeting the world for the first time. Light, once foreign, now bathes its fragile form. The seed casing still clings, reluctant to let go. The shell that once protected now threatens to confine. The sprout must break free, unfolding itself into the vastness above. Another initial test of strength, the sprout triumphs. The plant reveals the first leaves, small and unassuming, yet filled with quiet determination.
The days bring warmth, rain, and wind. Some moments are still, peaceful in their simplicity. Others are marked by storms, where bending seems inevitable, and breaking feels possible. Growth is never without struggle. Each new leaf, each unfurling stem, is a lesson in persistence. Roots stretch deeper, seeking nourishment unseen, while the stem reaches higher, undeterred by uncertainty.
As time passes, the once-small seedling transforms. Strength takes shape in its limbs, resilience in its leaves. It learns the rhythm of the world—the ebb and flow of the days, the dance between sun and shade. It understands that not every moment is filled with ease; some days bring drought, others relentless rain. But seeking the sun through it all, it grows.
Then one day, when the time is right, the confident plant makes buds —small promises of something yet to come. They do not bloom all at once; each unfolds in its own time. Some open quickly, embracing the warmth without hesitation. Others linger, waiting for the perfect moment. In quiet anticipation, petals stretch toward the sky, revealing their colors for the first time.
The rest of nature notices. The birds, the bees and even the wind come to admire this expression of life. There is a new energy now, a purpose woven into the fabric of existence. What once was a small sprout is now an incarnation of beauty and possibility. And then, the ultimate transmutation begins. The flower fades and petals fall, but in their place, fruit takes form. A gift to the world that watched it grow.
There is no destination, only a journey, a cycle. Leaves will wither; seeds will scatter. But nothing is lost. The journey is carried forward, the earth itself bearing proof of this cycles success.
Growth is not linear. Nor is stretching for the light easy. Every moment of struggle, is also a test of strength. Within every stretch toward the light, there is resilience. Within every stage of becoming, there is beauty—unfolding, ever reaching, ever growing.
"All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer." -Machiavelli
Writing this spring and planting seeds for the garden as my two oldest celebrate their 18th birthdays, they prepare for their next chapters, cautiously optimistic for what is to come.
Commenti