Tend to Your Own Garden

The first time I gardened was during the pandemic. I loved the smell of the soil and the delight of seeing things grow each day. The mint got out of control but the tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuces were outstanding! I became so ambitious dreaming up my future gardens… but then I got pregnant with my son and since then I haven’t planted a thing. All I’ve done is collect images on Pinterest of what I hope to grow one day.

Meanwhile, this week, I walked past my indoor plants and stopped short. They were struggling, a little droopy, dry, and sad. I got down on my knees and began removing some dead leaves. I was humbled by the reminder: how easy it is to overlook what lives right in front of us.

We’re often fixated on what we’ll build next—the next role, the next chapter, the next version of ourselves—while something right in front of us is begging for care.

I see this constantly with my clients. Leaders who feel restless, uninspired, or ready to walk away. They talk about reinvention, escape, or blowing it all up. And yet, they haven’t tended to the work, the relationship, or the responsibility already in their hands.

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t elsewhere. Sometimes it’s closer, more ordinary, and less glamorous.

In The Work Happiness Method, I write: "If you’re willing to quit, you also have the option to be brave."

Bravery doesn’t always mean leaving. Sometimes it means staying: paying attention, initiating the hard conversation, and showing up when it would be easier to disengage.

We often assume that only drastic, sweeping changes matter. That belief can leave us feeling overwhelmed or powerless when so much feels misaligned—at work, at home, or in the world around us. And yet, transformation often begins more quietly: with a pause, a moment of noticing, and care offered to what’s already here.

What in your life or leadership is quietly asking for your presence?

If you’d like support, whether to re-engage yourself or re-energize your team, I’d be glad to talk.

Schedule a call today.

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