Harvesting Lessons

How nature helps nurture the process.

“What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.” - Meister Eckhart   

Happy first full week of Fall!

I don’t know if that’s something we proclaim, but I am today!

This past week, I have found myself more aware of the natural transitions of Fall. The days are getting shorter. The temperature is changing — even more abruptly, and the pleasant, “Harvest-type smells” are lingering in the air. 

While all of this is happening around us — there is more to acknowledge than just the physical changes of the season. 

The changing of seasons have an opportunity to provide us with new perspectives on life. When a new season is upon us, I consciously try to open myself up to the meaning of this natural event that takes place every few months. 

Taking time to reflect upon the natural environment, helps us to observe a complex, yet very beautiful world, which is cycling through patterns, phases and stages of transition.

This is a wonderful reminder that change and transition are constant in every area of life and that it is not permanent in its state. We are constantly moving, and shifting through seasons, in the external sense — the world around us is changing; and internally, we are evolving as humans. 

A year ago, I planted a seed. 

Life Out Loud — a seed that was conceived in the Fall of 2018. Previously in that year, I had been off work on medical leave due to challenges with my mental health. Unbeknownst to me at that time, the painful experiences I went through, was an essential part of my journey. My experiences are the seeds that are so deeply rooted in my business.

Since registering my business, I have gone through many changes and transitions. I am just a few months away (December 2019), of reaching my one year anniversary, and already, I have gone through many shifts in my business — taking great steps forward AND also valuable steps back. 

How does a seed grow into a plant?

Think about it. 

Perhaps your attention is immediately drawn to the outcome — focused on the plants and beautiful flowers that magically spring from the ground now and then, but what we sometimes forget to acknowledge is the process that takes place underneath it all — below the dirt. 

All plants start as seeds — usually fairly small, and tiny seeds. Despite these seeds being small in size, they contain the essentials necessary to develop life as a plant. When seeds are planted, they first grow roots. Once the roots are strengthened and take hold of the earth, the small plant begins to emerge and eventually breaks through the soil. And over time, as the plant receives light, food and water, the process of growth continues.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to teach you something new here — these are facts of life that we already know. But recently, I’ve had to remind myself of this process. When I first started my business, there were parts of the journey that I expected to immediately launch — I wanted to see the outcome before the process was activated. How can a seed grow and develop without cultivating, watering and providing it with TIME to grow? 

I fear not which I have seen grow, but perhaps, fear of what lies in the midst of transition. Despite those moments of unease and uncertainty, the beautiful thing about fear is that it is the facilitator of growth.

The harvest does not happen overnight.

It doesn’t make sense that seeds would naturally grow instantaneously into a flower. So why would I expect my business to grow instantaneously? Maybe I have unrealistic expectations sometimes (Ok, I know this to be true), which is why I love tuning into the lessons and experiences of life that is outside of me to help pull me back to reality. 

In doing so, I find greater peace and compassion not only for myself in knowing that it is ‘ok’ that my business isn’t taking off like a rocket (it’s probably for the best), but also compassion for the process. The process of business development requires systems, and tools to help build, maintain and nurture, that which has been seeded. My business is not buried, it is germinating — it’s sprouting from a seedling! It is on its way to flourish, expand and thrive as it was designed. And in the meantime, I need to nurture the process and be patient in this time of transition. 

In this season, I am grateful for the small, but beautiful harvest, that is available for me to receive. I have made some meaningful connections through my work, and have learned some valuable lessons which will only support the development of Life Out Loud. While my business is still under construction, I am beginning to see the sprouting of the flower — it may not be as large as a sunflower, but that’s ok, growth is still taking place. The more I continue to take care of it and give it time to blossom into the business that is intended to be, the more this creative venture will continue to grow, on purpose.

Is there an area of your life that is going through a breakthrough — the result of you sowing a seed earlier in life? Maybe a breakthrough in a relationship, your career, finances, or personal growth. I encourage you to take note of what is breaking through the ground; and focus on how you will continue to nurture its growth.

Or maybe it’s time to plant some seeds. What will you sow in your life, that has the potential to produce a beautiful harvest in your future?

With love & intention,

Martina

Martina Kelades
Founder, Life Out Loud

Martina has over 10 years’ professional experience working as a Personal Development Counsellor and Instructor and holds a diploma in Social Services (Addictions Counselling concentration) from the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), as well as a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Mount St. Vincent University. In addition to her education, Martina is a certified and active Mental Health First Aid trainer, a national, certificate, training course through the Mental Health Commission of Canada.