Freaky Friday

A spookily serendipitous discovery perfectly suited for Friday the 13th!

A few weeks ago, I planted some sweet peas seeds in a container and put it in our sunny backyard. The little dudes had a rough start: first, torrential rain jostled them around the pot. Then a squirrel pranced through the mud. Then our landlord's adorable toddler dug into the dirt. I figured that the seeds had probably been washed--or toted--away, and I gave up on the fledgling plant. I brought the container inside and ditched it in our little-used office, beneath a dusty window. Then I forgot about it.

Today, I wandered into the office to spritz the cacti perched on the windowsill. Then I noticed them: tiny seedlings pushing through the dried-out soil in the abandoned container. I'd given up on them too soon--these seedlings are scrappy!

In the professional world, we're conditioned to be progress-oriented. Of course, results matter--and the faster they're achieved, the better. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that if things don't come together quickly, they're never going to. I hustle hard in pursuit of goals--but maybe I accept defeat too easily when it seems like they're not going to come to fruition. With a little time and space, things might just start to grow when you least expect it.

I added a few fast-growing poppy seeds to the container, watered it thoroughly, and put it back outside. Can't wait to see what sprouts up.