Seeds, Singletrack, and Taken by the Strawberry Moon

On self-growth

“But how will I know if it’s working?” asked bird.

“Every seed you plant,” replied bear, “gives possibility a chance to grow.”

…
📷: The Wren in all white
…

It was big. Like really big.

And it was glowing. A creamy, incandescent sort of white.

It wasn’t even fully dark and yet this thing was lighting up the night just beyond the treeline.

My breath – literally – caught.

On Monday, my counselor asked me to reflect on the seeds I’ve been planting over the past months.

- Pursuing new passions like bikepacking. Planted.
- Leaning into my fears. Planted.
- Embracing my own embodied sense of self-worth. Planted.
- Committing to identifying and fulfilling my needs. Planted.
- Being open and authentic. Planted.

I often wonder if I’m doing enough to tend them. If anything is really happening, or changing. If they will actually grow.

And yet last Friday night here I was, ten singletracked miles up Mrazek peeking out of my tent, watching the rising of that strawberry moon as it tickled the tops of towering lodgepole pines.

“You made that moment possible,” my counselor said, “with the seeds you planted.”

Of intention.
Of action.
Of returning again and again.

And when I told him about the ride I took the next day – a ride with Oregon Timber Trail Association, Cog Wild, and Central Oregon Trail Alliance where I met and talked about real things, true things, life things with two sweet and thoughtful and beautiful humans, he simply said, “Seeds bearing fruit.”

Growth takes time. And much of it isn’t obvious, taking place under the surface. But with care and attention, seeds can sprout. Roots set.

Stems reaching.
Flowers emerging.
Fruits appearing.

What was not, becoming so – likely in ways that will awe and amaze you. They do me.

What seeds can you plant today that will make moments you couldn’t have even dreamed of possible?