Lessons from a Plant

 

I've been thinking about what it means to be a 'grown up', and that maybe it's knowing the growing never stops.

No matter how small the space you occupy, where there is the capacity to cast your bearings and sprout new ideas, there's always room for more growth.

While the roots you formed long ago remain the foundations, bending towards the direction of the sun will always be just as natural as breathing.

There is so much to be learned in this tiny everyday life. Don't forget just how tall you grow, in your mind and in your heart, with every drop of knowledge you absorb.

Book Break | Florette by Anna Walker

 

When Mae's family moves to a new home, Mae wishes she could bring the garden with her. She'll miss the apple trees, the daffodils and the butterflies in the long, wavy grass. But there's no room for a garden in her new home...Or is there?

What caught my eye with this book was, of course, the stunning imagery that is nothing short of a work of art. Flipping through the pages, I wished I could be part of Mae's gentle world. But as I followed along with the story, expressed in few words, it hit me that there is a lot that can be learned from the little girl's mind. Despite moving to a city so strikingly different to her home, Mae's passion and creativity helps her to adjust and feel happy once again. From a tiny 'stalk of green', Mae cultivates her own garden from which she and her community can benefit; both through the environmental benefits it brings and the hope and friendships it fosters.

It's not often that I find myself reaching for children's books, but after reading Florette by Anna Walker, I think I may have to do so more often. I really appreciate the knack they have for addressing the simple things in life that make all the difference. With Florette, I was reminded that a dream is achievable if one has the resilience, conviction and imagination to see it through.

Slow Down | Take a Hike

I took a day trip to Rottnest, an Island one hour off the coast of Western Australia. Six hours spent walking various parts of the Wadjemip trail was enough to quell my various anxieties. It was like breathing out a long sigh, unclenching fists and loosening tense limbs. It's one of those places you can let your worries be swept away to sea.

Take a Hike

Get out to somewhere quiet, it doesn't matter how far flung or close to home. Tread well trodden paths and climb steep sandy hills. From here on, it's all about getting back to basics. Focus on your heartbeat and your breathing. Remember that the world can be simpler than what it is, as long as you make the time to believe it.

After a spate of feelings of anxiousness and stress, my Slow Down series began with this post as an effort to reflect on the small activities that make all the difference. They are the ones that focus on the present and the moments that must be cherished.