Seeds: Still Planting, Still Growing

I first wrote this piece back in 2021 for the Wellbeing College newsletter.

Reading it again now, I can see how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. Since then, many seeds have been planted. Some have grown beyond what I imagined, some have taken longer to emerge, and some never quite made it through the soil.

But isn’t that the nature of growth?

What hasn’t changed is this: I am still planting. Still learning. Still tending to what matters. And I always will be. Because growth isn’t a one-off event. Seasons come and go, things flourish and fade, but the process continues.

We are always evolving, whether we realise it or not.

This piece feels just as relevant today as it did then, perhaps even more so. So, I’m sharing it again – not as something from the past, but as a reminder that growth is ongoing, and we are allowed to begin again, as many times as we need.

Seeds

“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be buried in dirt, hidden in darkness, and struggle to reach the light.”

Spring arrived. Baby animals were being born, seeds were being planted, and buds were beginning to burst open. Daffodils, tulips, snowdrops, and more were springing up all around, bringing a sense of hope, warmth, and vibrancy back into the air.

In April, my little boy planted some sunflower seeds and has been tending to them ever since. Checking them daily, waiting for the shoots to appear, making sure they are getting enough water, and placing them carefully in the sunlight. Nurturing them to give them the best chance to bloom into their full beauty has provided some important lessons about growth, nature, patience, and the responsibility of caring for something.

It also got me thinking about the seeds that we plant and nurture, metaphorically, within ourselves and our lives. For flowers and plants, the quality of their growth depends on the time and care they are given. They need healthy soil, sunlight, adequate water, and the right conditions. If they don’t get those things, there is a chance they may not appear above the soil, let alone grow into their full potential and beauty.

We can apply this to ourselves too.

So, what do you want to emerge in your life? What is it that you want to see bloom? What is already budding, just waiting to open up for you?

Think about the seeds that are being planted within you – your thoughts, your emotions, your senses, your body, your relationships, and your routines. And, think about what might be withering in your life, or within you. Is there something that needs more care and attention to revive and grow? Or is it something that it’s time to let go of – something that once served a purpose but no longer has a place in your life? If that’s the case, how about planting some new seeds? Ones that will serve your highest good and support you in growing into your best self?

What you feed grows. What you nurture and give your time and energy to grows. No one wants a garden full of weeds, but if we keep watering them, they will keep coming back. We need to remove them and plant new seeds, nurture them, and watch them grow.

What I’ve come to realise since writing this years ago is that there can be beauty in the weeds too. They often have something to show us… a lesson, a memory, a moment of growth. But we don’t have to hold on to them or keep tending to them for longer than they are meant to stay. We can appreciate them, and still choose what we want to grow.

Remember, nature is not instant, and neither is personal growth. It is a process. Sometimes, we expect to plant a seed and see results straight away. But we wouldn’t plant a tree and expect it to be fully grown the next day. We need to nurture it, feed it, water it, add more soil, and remove debris. And we can do the same for ourselves. We just need to stay committed to our growth and give it time.

Back when I first wrote this in 2021, it was Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme was “Nature” highlighting the powerful benefits that nature has on our psychological and emotional health.

That message still stands.

Nature is something we all have access to, and it can bring clarity, calm, and perspective. Even something as small as planting a seed and watching it grow on your windowsill can reconnect you – to yourself, to the present moment, and to what really matters.

And that’s where it begins. With one small seed.