Let it grow
Definition of grow
1a : to spring up and develop to maturity
b : to be able to grow in some place or situation
trees that grow in the tropics
grows in wisdom
3 : to develop from a parent source
the book grew out of a series of lectures
4a : to pass into a condition : become
grew pale
b : to have an increasing influence habit
grows on a person
c : to become increasingly acceptable or attractive
didn't like it at first, but it grew on him
Well, well, well it seems like July has arrived and I don’t know about you guys, but I feel like this year is just flying by. I can’t believe we’re already past the halfway mark. Every day seems to be gone in a blink of an eye, but simultaneously seems to be a year of its own. It has me thinking a lot about heat (because my golly, is it hot outside!) but more importantly: growth.
I chose this word for this month because it is a time of very visible growth all around us, even if you just look at the grass in your lawn, it seems to reach the same height just days after mowing it.
Recently I’ve been taking daily walks around the yard to observe my small garden and trees. Some days it seems like they don’t grow much, and sometimes I can’t believe it’s only been a day. It’s fascinating to me, that if I miss a couple of days, I usually come back to a massive change.
It gets me thinking about just how separate we are from nature. (Spoiler alert: I don’t think we are at all.)
There are times in my life, where I have tried to actively pursue growth, sometimes successfully, but more often than not, it just left me frustrated, longing for something that seemed so out of reach, a climb to no end.
A lot of times I feel overwhelmed by the pressure that comes with constantly having to be better, to improve, to grow.
This is a time of the year when a lot of us can put more focus on what we want to do, on rest and recovery, and less on what is expected of us, and I find it wonderful how periods of slowing down; of letting things settle; of getting enough sleep, though it may seem counterintuitive, all contribute to our growth.
When I seem to do the most growth are times where I’m not thinking about what might happen; times where I am fully engaged in the present moment and not preoccupied with being better, smarter, faster, healthier, etc.
I guess the coolest part for me, is that oftentimes, you can’t tell you’re growing until you’re done with that phase; only after that can you look back and compare where you came from and where you are now. When you are immersed in the journey, sometimes it feels like nothing is happening at all; yet when you get a glimpse from the outside, so many things have shifted!
I think a huge part of building lasting growth is building healthy habits and creating an environment where growth is encouraged. I know for me, having space to myself, away from distractions and from other people always helps me settle into feeling more connected to myself, and more open to accepting the present as it is, which in my opinion is the foundation of any change, any growth.
That’s why implementing conscious movement, healthy sleep, creative expression, time in nature and with loved ones all contribute to our wellbeing and therefore our growth.
Just like plants need water and good soil to grow. If the environment is right for us, the growth will be automatic. No need to chase it.
So, this hot, wonderful month, I wish for you to be able to be completely present in your day-to-day, and who knows? You might just pick your head back up to see how much you’ve grown from where you started.
See you next month,
I love you