It won’t be long before the mailbox is overflowing with this year’s seed catalogs—a quiet reminder that new beginnings are already on their way. The arrival of these catalogs adds a gentle whisper to the stillness that follows the holidays, inviting us to dream about the possibilities that lie ahead.

As we step into a new year, uncertainty is inevitable, but so is hope. There’s hope in the choices we make, in the seeds we plant, and in the quiet belief that with care and effort, life will bloom in ways we can’t always predict.

Each winter, skimming through the pages of seed catalogs fills me with excitement. It’s not just about the anticipation of flowers and vegetables—it’s about imagining a garden yet to be. Even though I know not every seed will sprout, the simple act of starting makes growth possible.

The Garden Within

This is the perfect time to reflect on the seeds we plant within ourselves. Like the seeds in our gardens, the emotional seeds we sow—seeds of joy, peace, curiosity, or mindfulness—need nurturing to thrive.

“Your mind is like a piece of land planted with many different kinds of seeds: seeds of joy, peace, mindfulness, understanding, and love; seeds of craving, anger, fear, hate, and forgetfulness. These wholesome and unwholesome seeds are always there, sleeping in the soil of your mind. The quality of your life depends on the seeds you water. If you plant tomato seeds in your garden, tomatoes will grow. Just so, if you water a seed of peace in your mind, peace will grow. When the seeds of happiness in you are watered, you will become happy. When the seed of anger in you is watered, you will become angry. The seeds that are watered frequently are those that will grow strong.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

Seed catalogs are more than lists; they’re invitations to imagine. The vibrant images of each seed help us envision the beauty and abundance of a thriving garden. Likewise, when we nurture the seeds of positivity within ourselves, we cultivate a life filled with meaning and growth.

Planting and Watering Hope

Every seed—and every choice we make—carries potential. Some seeds may not grow as we hoped, but even in their unpredictability, they offer lessons. Choosing to plant is an act of hope, and embracing uncertainty is part of the process. It’s in the watering—the consistent care and effort—that beauty emerges.

“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out, and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”

Cynthia Occelli

Growth often looks messy or uncertain, but the willingness to plant and nurture leads to transformation. Whether in our gardens or our lives, hope is the self-watering practice that sustains us through the waiting, the tending, and the unknown.

A Season to Begin

As the new year begins, take a deep breath. This is your season to plan and plant your seeds of hope. Reflect on what you want to cultivate, choose the seeds that align with your dreams, and commit to nurturing them.

The promise of spring, even in the heart of winter, depends on the seeds we choose now. What will you plant today?

Talk soon…

G