Now is one of my favorite times of year, the time of new growth.
I mentioned in a recent newsletter how the prickly pear let you see exponential growth in slow motion, and a reader alerted me to the gardening rule of thumb for perennial plants, “Sleep, Creep, Leap.”
In the first year, a perennial will focus on its foundation, anchoring its roots, so it can survive dormancy in the winter.
The second year, the plant comes out of dormancy and starts to grow, both up and down — “you can expect to see blooms, though the plant hasn’t quite reached its full size or full flowering potential.”
In the third year, the plant takes off and comes into full form.
Another gardening metaphor we can use for creative work!
So many of my projects tend to follow this sleep, creep, leap structure.
At first, there’s some idea taking root, but you don’t know anything about it, it’s growing underground, without your knowledge.
Then, you find an idea creeping, blossoming and growing, so you nurture it.
Finally, the idea bursts forth into full life.
