We don’t always get to choose our perfect life. Sometimes our life choices have led us to a place that is different than where we might have imagined ourselves landing. And sometimes life just has other plans for us.
While I am certainly a fan of dreaming big and making great plans for the future, there’s a potential drawback to all of that future planning, because we may run the risk of living in the future and not appreciating where we are right now. Today.
Sometimes it’s scary to accept where we are right this minute, because we want to plan for a better future. But I’m of the opinion that while it’s critical to plan for a great future, it’s also important to accept where you are right now and cherish the present, especially since we never know what tomorrow will bring.
So don’t be afraid to bloom where you are planted. It may sound a bit cliche – bloom where you are planted – but no matter where you go, there you are. YOU are the common denominator. And if you want to move forward into an even greater future, you have to bloom in the very spot you’re in right now.
This afternoon I was sitting outside at my local coffee shop, catching some sun, when I spied this…
…a crack in the sidewalk, probably only about 8 inches wide at the most, and an entire ecosystem sprouted in that small crevice. Moss and tiny little plants sprouting and leaves decaying and little rocks and bugs walking around their little world. In a giant expanse of concrete sidewalk, a tiny ecosystem bloomed. Not the most ideal spot in the world, and yet, there it was that this little world began to grow.
And so can you. Grow and bloom today, right where you’re planted. Don’t be afraid to enjoy and love the life that you have today, even if it’s not where you ultimately want to end up. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn and grow and to make a positive impact on all the people around you.
I recently had an experience that made me realize how important it is to bloom where you are planted. I recently took on a new role at my workplace and was speaking with one of my co-workers to share news of my new role. He really surprised me by telling me how much of an impact I had made on him in and how thrilled he was to work with me. Frankly, I was stunned. Somewhat because I never imagined that this is where I would be today. But here I am. And I have the opportunity – as we all do – to bloom where I’m planted and make a positive impact on those around me every day. And moreover, my co-worker inspired me to make an even better effort at sharing positivity with my workplace and the world at large.
So make your future plans for an even greater life. But in the meantime, don’t be afraid to bloom where you’re planted.
What have you done today that scares you, if even only a little bit? Share your story in the comments below.