Soul Dump Sunday – Planting Seeds

7/27/2025

My beautiful son went from just a little silly boy with lots of energy and wisecracks, to an ornery, uncomfortable, 5-foot-11 teenager in what felt like overnight. For a long time, I felt like—wow—we’re getting so much time with him as a little boy, with that cute little voice, smooth non-pimply skin, and an absolute love and desire to be around us.

In the back of my mind, I knew—and was reminded daily—that nothing lasts forever. Enjoy it, I thought. Take lots of pictures and videos, because this too will pass. Everything must change and evolve. But nothing quite prepared me for that transition. And here I sit, inside of it. It truly felt so much faster than I imagined it could be.

Now, at almost 15, he struggles—as many of us do—with life, expectations from both self and others, transition and transformation, and learning how to stay adaptable in a world that isn’t very forgiving or easy most of the time.

I remember a therapist telling me once, “Who told you this would be easy or fast? Why do you think you won’t have to face hard things in life?” It felt a bit harsh at the time, but it reminded me not to sit in the victim mind too long. And that everyone has to live inside their own journey.

So now, as he learns to navigate daily life and challenges, and big, scary emotions, he’s naturally been adopting a few self-regulating tactics. I think some of them he’s literally just making up or discovering himself. One of them is planting things. Propagating plants from around the house and neighborhood. Using the seeds from fruits we’ve eaten to see if something will grow from them. So far we have a cantaloupe in the works, some peppers, lavender, pothos, sunflowers, morning glories, and more.

I can see the peace it brings him—to observe the process, to play in the dirt, to check the pots each day to see if anything new has sprouted. Sometimes the seeds need water or a little love, and sometimes they just need to be left alone to do their thing. The cool thing is, he’s aware (thanks to those videos that show the evolution of seeds over time on YouTube) that these seeds take time to sprout. Did you know a pineapple takes more than 400 days to grow—just one? Nothing happens overnight. And some fail altogether.

What a cathartic reminder for me on so many levels. It reminded me of what I’ve been doing for years—through my business, music, and life: planting seeds.

When I ran a big-time jewelry school, I was constantly doing this. If I saw a student with unusually advanced skills, I would plant a seed—either for what was next or what they may consider for their future—sometimes even becoming a teacher themselves. If there was a rockstar master maker in the industry who felt impossible to bring into the school to plant seeds with my students for their growth, I would still plant the seed. Then the next year at a conference, nurture it. And the next. Until I got a yes. Some may consider this annoying—but it works.

I would also wear my work everywhere I went. And when someone connected to it and made a comment, I would plant a seed. Hand them a business card. Many times it happened that years later, someone would walk into the studio with that card in their hand saying, “I’m ready now.” Whether it was for a class or a custom piece or to teach a class.

In many ways, I’m pretty sure this is how I built my businesses. And what essentially led me to my current season of coaching and mentoring. It’s what I do all day now—plant seeds, nurture the seeds, repot them when needed, reframe them, and have the incredible honor and joy of watching others grow over time.

What a beautiful position to find myself in. And the real beauty is that I grow alongside them.

I know this is worthy work. I have proof. When my older son comes to us and says things like, “That time you made me work to pay back that $100 taught me everything about money and how easily it comes and goes.” Or when a client mentions that the thing I said a few times—over and over again—is finally sinking in, and they’ve now taken action and reaped the results and rewards. Sometimes it takes a lot of no’s to get to the yes.

Watching the mind and the psyche shift—this is subtle. It’s not all explosive moments or overnight ahas. There’s no beam of light that shoots down and changes everything. It’s slow, steady, and sometimes requires starting over a few times to get it to take life.

Keep planting seeds, especially when they could grow something important to you—something healthy and hearty, joyful and fulfilling. Some of them have to succeed. And we learn from the ones that don’t.

They all have weight.

Onward and upward.