My garden preached a word to me this morning. If you know my PURPOSESCAPING philosophy, you know I talk about understanding what season you're in so you know what to watch out for.
In spring planting season, you must treat yourself, your ideas, your health — whatever is new — tenderly. Seedlings are delicate and can break under a heavy spade. I've taken to transplanting mine with a plastic spoon.
Summer: maintenance and guarding the growth
Spring is my favorite season. Where I struggle is summer, when you have to dig in and guard what has taken root. You protect new growth from pests and weeds, because negative things are also attracted to good growth. The same is true when your career starts attracting attention and recognition.
The storm
Last night the first strong thunderstorm of the season came through. I rolled my vertical garden closer to the house, locked the wheels, said a prayer, and waited. This morning most of the plants were fine. But one of my tomato plants, started from seed in March and now the largest in the garden, was leaning, with a thick stalk badly bent.
I immediately ordered a plant support to help it as it grows bigger and climbs higher. That's when it hit me: I had accounted for pests, weeds, and drought in summer, but never the threat of summer storms.
The June tomato plant is not the March tomato plant. It is more vulnerable because of its growth, and it needs more support to reach its full potential.
What about you?
I feel I too am in a major summer growth season: carrying more and growing rapidly on my way to a harvest. I need more community and a stronger team to help me weather the inevitable storms.
If you are carrying more, growing rapidly, and navigating the storms that come with higher visibility and success, you cannot do it alone. The summer-growth version of you needs more support than the spring-planting version did.
Originally published in The Rest Revolution on Substack. Subscribe there for new essays and soundbaths.