🍅To most, I hold in my hand only a tiny little tomato. But to me, this represents tremendous change, and hope. For those who know me, you know how much I love fresh flowers, plants, greenery, fresh herbs, and how much I love to cook home cooked meals with fresh ingredients for those I love. For years, decades really, I grew nothing despite many efforts, and I was known for having a “brown thumb”. It actually became the joke. Today I returned home…to something new. I stand on my patio, in a home I own, nestled in the forest, with a river running near by, birds chirping, owning my own business, returning from a vacation that I paid for and was able to take my children on by myself, beside a small, but grand little garden, with strawberries, and tomatoes, and snap peas, and herbs, and peppers, and flowers, and twinkle lights. And I am brought to tears and am proud of myself. I HONOR MY GROWTH. I RECOGNIZE MY EFFORTS. I CELEBRATE THAT CHANGE TAKES TIME, but always worth striving for. And I am reminded to never stop working towards the changes we want to see in ourselves and create for ourselves. This year of growth and change is so much bigger than fruit. It’s bearing the fruit of things desired, things recognized, things left behind, tears shed, hard work and dreams manifested. It’s a process and it happens when the time is right, not when we demand it or force it. I am doing my best and I am creating a beautiful life that I am excited about. I have doubts and moments of terror, yet there are reminders everywhere that life is so beautiful. I am filled with tremendous gratitude that change IS possible. For me, for those I love, for the future, and for all of us to recognize the power of time. I’m holding proof in my hand, where I stand. This isn’t JUST a tomato. This is a tomato I grew from a seed. Let this be your reminder to plant your seeds, water them, tend to them, worry about them, plan for their care, give them shade and love…and watch them grown!!! 💚#change #growth #desire #dream #nevergiveup