A Quiet Birthday, A Moment to Reflect
Today I turn 36.
Birthdays have always been a quiet checkpoint for me, a moment to pause, breathe, and ask myself how I’m really doing. This year, I’ve found most of my answers not in big celebrations or long to-do lists, but in my garden. This birthday reflection feels especially meaningful as I connect my personal growth with the steady pace of nature.
Lessons from a Little Pepper Plant
There’s a little scotch bonnet pepper seedling growing out there right now. It’s not the tallest, strongest, or fastest-growing plant in the garden. In fact, it’s been sitting quietly in its pot for weeks. Still small, still waiting. It hasn’t died, but it hasn’t taken off either.
Each morning, I check on it, wondering if today will be the day it finally stretches toward the sun or signals that it’s ready to be transplanted. And yet, there’s beauty in that waiting.
Growth You Can’t Always See
This pepper plant reminds me of something I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately. Growth isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes, the biggest progress is the kind you can’t see yet.
As a mom, I think about the life lessons I want to pass on to my kids:
That it’s okay to take your time.
That staying rooted is just as important as blooming.
And that quiet persistence is still movement forward.
This birthday reflection reminds me how important patience and faith are in both gardening and parenting.
Water It, Trust It, Let It Surprise You
This past year has brought its share of challenges, personal growth, and a few hard truths. But like my garden, life has taught me to keep tending to what matters even when the results aren’t immediate. Water it. Protect it. Trust it. Let it surprise you.
Just like I’m waiting on that little pepper plant, I’m learning to be patient with myself too. I may not have all the answers, but I’m still here, still growing, still becoming. And that’s enough.
Rooted in Resilience
So here’s to 36 to motherhood, to resilience, to unexpected lessons from tiny seedlings, and to the quiet kind of growth that prepares us for something beautiful, even if we can’t see it yet.
What About You?
Have you ever had a moment in the garden or in life where you felt like you were growing, even if no one could see it? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. And if you’ve got a plant that’s teaching you something this season, tell me about it. Let’s grow together.
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