Growing Up

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.”

― Anais Nin

At this moment...
My fields are bursting!

In spring, all those seeds and seedlings and little sprigs from deep roots... They look so small in the vastness of my fields.

Now, those wee little ones are all grown up. Blooming. Fruiting. Abundantly!

Every gardener knows: The only way for our little ones to become all they are meant to be, they must...

Grow
Open
Become 

To Grow or To Shrink
"There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are meant to shine...As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

-Marianne Williamson

I'll admit... shrinking feels safe sometimes, no?

But then...I ask middle-school me: how did that feel?

And... You know.

It is simply not in the nature of a hibiscus flower to shrink. It is:

Elegant
Stately
Bright

And I love them for it.

It is simply not in the nature of humans to shrink.

Grow
Always
Brighter
Thank you, Hibiscus, for your daily reminder.

Growing At My Steady Pace
"When I am among the trees...
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily."

- Mary Oliver, When I am Among the Trees

Growing does not need to hurry.
It does not need to rush.

The berries ripen at a perfect pace.

From flower
to bud
to fruit
to juicy red gem.

Their pace is perfection.

Every plant has this to teach me...
"Never hurry through the world

walk slowly,
and
bow often."

-Mary Oliver

Becoming
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

-Maya Angelou

Perhaps it isn't about "arriving" somewhere...
being a "grown up"...
finally.

Growing is about "becoming" something...
better...
always.

More than we were yesterday,
last season,
last year.

I am learning...

There is no end to the growing...

Ever Up

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” 

― Anais Nin

Dear Herbal Tea Partner,

My blessing to you and myself this month: 

May we never shrink, but grow our light and shine brightly; giving others permission to do the same.

May the pace of our growth be steady, savoring every moment.

May we never "arrive" as "grown ups" but always become better than what we once were.

As always: 

Thank you 

I'm honored to be your herbal tea farmer. 

Be well,
Shannon