Planting seeds
And being patient / Issue 1,452
Oh, hi friends!
One of the most popular pages from my first journal Do It For Yourself is the illustration that says:
The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.
And next to it is a prompt that says:
Every email or tweet you send, every hi to a stranger or “Hey, love your work!” is the seed of a future opportunity.
You don’t know which ones will grow, so you simply have to plant them all. And then wait.
Which seeds will you deploy today?
Still thinking about the importance of this a few years later, because I have witnessed this play out over and over again.
Sometimes I am good at planting seeds.
Other times not so much.
But yesterday someone popped into my mind so I fired off a check-in email that also contained a book recommendation.
And a few days ago I sent some pages to a friend to see if he’s interested in what I’m writing.
What if we all did this more? And more?
What if we initiated conversations with people we already know or want to be around more?
That’s planting seeds.
They don’t get back to you? All good. Not the right timing. It is not personal.
Again: It is not personal.
You’re not forcing anything.
You’re just planting.
Yes, even today, on a holiday week.
Why not?
Btw I added a bunch of new Launch the Plane dates to my calendar, if you’re using this summer to get a project off the ground or need some clarity on how to move forward!!
Seed planting is a beautiful way to be in the world. The actions can take many forms, and you never know which will bloom. But that's OK. With planting comes nurturing. That's the part I enjoy most.
When I care for my mini-garden, I help the flowers and herbs flourish. When I give love and attention to my relationships and projects, the fruit is abundant.
My motivation is not for the result (the fruit), although who doesn't love delicious fruit? For me, it's more about the actions put forth with love, mindfulness, and presence that bring me joy.
Thanks for the reminder. About to plant a seed right now ... so I can eat the fruit sooner than later. Berries are in season right now and so so good!