Planting Seeds Before the Harvest

We saw the sun for two full days this weekend! It has been a cold, wet winter and y’all, my southern soul desperately needed some light. So on Friday morning, I pulled all of our houseplants into the sunroom with me and laid on the floor for, if I’m being honest, about an hour. Ironically, while the sun shone bright, it was also snowing. Bless it all.

Anyway, as I laid there I had some thoughts. First, I kept thinking how I should have put sunscreen on my very pale face. Secondly, as I peeped at my seeds I’ve already started for this summer’s garden, the juxtaposition of them stretching tall in the sunlight surrounded by snow made me smile. New life against the (mostly) cold, dark realities of winter. It’s honestly a bit crazy that these seeds could not survive outside right now, and yet this is the exact time for when they need to be planted. This is when the seed is supposed to begin its journey, to start to root beneath the dark soil to ensure a summer’s harvest.

As I stood there beaming at these tiny resilient plants, making their way, it made me think of humans and our brilliant moxie.

The act of cultivating (both the plant and people kind) requires enormous amounts of energy, strength, and will. Growth is hard, especially when we can’t see the end results. It takes intention and hope. When you add expended energy and delayed results, it’s at this point that we are tempted to stay where we are at. To remain nestled under the comfort of our warm, rich soil. To pause and procrastinate. Procrastination often turns into excuses which we then turn into limiting beliefs. But all that does is stunt the positive growth we are meant to be making now. This is the exact time for when we need to be planted.

Consistent, intentional growth it is an important element to living a worthy life. It’s never too early to start growing towards our next season, never too late to assess where we are and where we’d like to be. Never wrong to prepare for what we may want to do next. It may be studying for an enrollment test or saving money for a future business opportunity. It could be going to therapy now so you are more emotionally grounded and mentally healthy for a future relationship or becoming a parent. It may be going to the gym now so as much as it’s up to you, your future self is healthier and able.

So, what do you need to be planting the seeds for now that will grow in the spring in your own life?
What do you need to do to prep yourself for a future job or relationship?
How can you start prepping now to be a parent, even if that is 5 years down the road?

Not sure where to begin? Picture yourself at the end. I promise each time a farmer puts down a seed, she’s thinking of the tall sunflower leaning towards the light. So, what’s your sunflower? Who do you want to be at the end on this season? Maybe the end of your life? Start with what you’d like to harvest, and then figure out the right seeds to start with now.

Just some thoughts,
Cecelia