Bloom Where You're Planted

Dear J,

It's the end of the week, and time is flying. Lately, I've been trying to wake up before 6 AM—but guess what? I don’t. My body clearly wants more sleep. I'm sure you can relate to those days when your mind wakes up like clockwork between 4:30-5:00 AM, but you don’t actually get out of bed until later. Anyway, enough about my sleep patterns.

The other day, Quise was working on something in Canva, and I caught a phrase on his screen: "Bloom Where You Are Planted." If you know me, you know words and phrases are my thing—I analyze them, dream about them, sometimes even obsess over them. This one, however, struck a chord deep within me.

I kept thinking about it, and an image came to mind: a tiny seed in a pot, surrounded by other pots, each holding its own seed. Later, curiosity got the best of me, so I looked up the meaning of "bloom." It means to thrive, blossom, and reach the pinnacle of growth. That hit me as well because, in many ways, I’m in the seed stage of a new journey. But I didn’t dwell on it. I did what I always do when something stirs me but feels incomplete. I kept moving, busying myself with other things, believing that if there were a revelation, it would come.

Then, the aha moment hit.

The seed in the image? That was me. Planted in a space with others—some just sprouting, some in full bloom—all growing at their own pace. It made me think about my recent decision to embrace this new path, sharing my thoughts with the world. In a world full of newbies, juniors, and seasoned veterans, I sometimes wonder: When will my seed bloom? Should I shift things around? Uproot and go back to what’s comfortable?

But here’s what I’ve decided: this phrase will be my gentle reminder whenever overthinking creeps in. "Bloom where you're planted, Melissa."

Growth doesn’t happen overnight. A seed doesn’t rush. It stays in the soil, trusting it will get exactly what it needs to grow. And just like that seed, I am exactly where I need to be—rooted, growing, preparing to bloom in my own time. This patience is a key part of the process, and I'm learning to embrace it.

The Takeaway: Growth happens where you are. Don’t rush the process. Stay planted, stay patient, and trust—your time to bloom is coming.

Until next time!

Love,

Mel