By Janice Carter

The winter palette of dismal greys is now being replaced with lush greens and a rich array of reds, purples and yellows. The feathered fellows are tweeting their lovely melodies and despite the smog, there’s a sweet aroma in the air. The plant life that slept through the snow and sleet is now waking. As one particular seed pushes its way through the soil, it turns to its neighbouring soon-to-be flower and says, “There’s got to be someway out of here. I don’t like being in this part of the flower bed.”

Have you ever woken up and felt that you too were in the wrong bed? I’m not trying to be salacious here. Are there moments when you feel like you’re not where you want to be? I felt like this in a particular job. I remember frequently sitting at my desk thinking: “I can’t stand this job. I’m so bored. I don’t feel challenged. Oh my goodness, it’s only 11am. How can I make it through another 6 hours! Get me out of here!” I struggled to pull myself out of bed each morning because my heart really wasn’t into my work. I constantly resisted where I was. I eventually left the job. I do believe I skipped out of the office on my last day. Now, in retrospect, I can see that despite my discontent, I needed to be in that particular job at that particular time in my life. It forged a path down amazing new avenues I would not have travelled otherwise.

My Dad used to tell this joke often. A set of twins are celebrating their birthday. They somehow get dumped into a pile of dung. One twin laments his position in the heap of stink. The other twin joyfully says “Come on, start digging. There’s got to be a pony in here!” I love that joke. It says it all: your capacity to enjoy where you are is directly correlated to the mindset you choose to adopt. I suspect that you’re where you are for a reason. Whether you like it not, choose to blossom where you’re planted.

 Fertilizers to encourage blossoming:

1. Keep a gratitude journal.

2. Stop and reward yourself when you achieve a goal.

3. Play “cheerleader” for people in your life by encouraging and supporting them.

4. Be honest with your friends when you’re struggling. There’s no shame in admitting you’re going through a tough time.

5. Celebrate when things are going well.

 Are you blossoming where you’re planted?