Whether you have a green thumb or not, you are a gardener. You plant seeds wherever you go.

Sometimes we are like dandelions, multiplying ourselves through the myriad ideas we sow. With just one gust of wind, we can cover an entire field with our seeds. Some might call the product of our labor ‘weeds’. Others might call it a work of art. Like dandelions, our efforts to make an imprint in the world may not be appreciated by everyone. And that’s okay. It is in our nature as human beings to wish to procreate, if only through our ideas alone.

At other times we may plant a seed that takes thirty years to grow into its fullest potential. One act of kindness, long-forgotten, could impact lives in ways we learn about well after the fact, if at all.

One of my favorite stories stems from a Chinese proverb about a woman who carries water along a path every day by balancing two pots hanging from a pole. The one pot is ashamed of its ugliness because it has a small hole that leaks water onto the ground. The other pot seems more beautiful because it serves its purpose of bringing water to the woman’s family. That is, until one day the woman says to the broken pot, “You are unique. The hole you have waters the path along the way. I planted seeds to make my walk more pleasant. And now I have a beautiful garden to enjoy every time I get water. Thanks to you.”

Many times I have wondered if I was on the right path. It seemed everything I touched withered on the vine. But what I did not realize was how I was planting seeds all along. Even in the darkest of nights, my efforts were not falling on fallow ground. Everything we come into contact with furthers our purpose, whether we are aware of that fact or not. And sometimes our purpose is different than what we would have ourselves believe.

Planting seeds may come naturally to you. You may be a passionate person who knows what she wants. Or you may be shy, uncertain or shaken by life’s twists and turns. Wherever you are, know that what you do and who you are makes a difference. You do indeed reap what you sow.

What do you want to see grow in your life?