Not where you thought you’d be?

My back garden is a true reflection of the last few weeks of winter. A tangled mess of weeds and self-seeding natives that, let’s just say, has experienced an unplanned pause in care-taking. Alongside it, I have also faced a few unexpected setbacks, which have meant many of the things I had hoped to prioritise simply didn’t receive the attention I intended to give them. 

As I walked through my garden this morning, I couldn’t help but notice how far it was from where I thought it would be. My garden, and so many other things. Yes, it’s frustrating, and yes, it’s disappointing. And then I remembered that sometimes new things form in the seasons when we are forced to abandon our plans and pause.

At the very back of the garden, almost hidden by weeds, one lone daffodil had found its way to the surface. Bright yellow. Bold. A reminder that growth is still happening, even when everything else feels messy and tangled.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why you’re not where you thought you’d be by now, or carrying that familiar feeling of being behind in your own life, I see you. I hear you. No amount of ‘bright-siding’ makes those feelings disappear. But perhaps we can trust this: even in seasons of interruption and uncertainty, good things are still quietly, steadily, making their way toward the light.

Wherever you find yourself today, even if it’s not where you thought you’d be, hold on, be gentle with yourself, and remember: even in our pauses, good things are quietly growing even if we can’t see them yet.