Dare to Blossom: Spring Reflections from Little Saps

 "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin

Anaïs Nin was a writer known for exploring creativity, courage, and change. Her words remind us that risk is often a part of growth, and that holding back can feel more painful than blooming.

As we hover on the eve of spring, tired of the chilled air and praying for warmer weather to come quickly, this quote feels especially timely. Here on our tree farm, watching buds swell and saplings stir, I can feel this truth in a very real way.

Like the bud of a flower or a tree, or the birth of a baby, a time will come for each of us when holding tightly to what we know forces us to take a risk, to make a change, to dare to blossom.

What in your life is waiting to bloom? Is there something you have dreamed of doing, but cannot seem to find the courage to actually try? Are you afraid of what others will say or think? Of taking a financial risk? Or maybe what you are really afraid of is failure.

We only have one life to live. We have to decide what to prioritize and what to let go. When we get to the end and we look back, will we be satisfied with the choices we made? If the answer is no, then now is the time to make a change. Now is the time to take the plunge.

Nin’s quote reminds us to take inspiration from the world around us. To be born is a risky thing. Birth itself is a painful process, and entering an unknown world is scary. What will you encounter? Will you find love? Acceptance? Success? Or will you find something else? Life offers no guarantees, but the fear of what we might find cannot keep us from the journey.

Would you rather sit still, unmoving, waiting for what might come, or choose to grow, like a Little Sap taking root and reaching toward the light?

There will always be a moment when sitting still is too painful and you are forced to move. Regardless of the great unknown before you, you cannot stay where you are. Just like a bud that blooms, you will burst forth, because things cannot stay the same.

When the time comes, you need not be fearful. Like the bud, you are built to blossom, to grow. You have what you need already inside of you. Yes, you might need a little light, a little water, and some fertile ground along the way, but you already have the tools to take those things and turn them into something beautiful. You were made for this.

So gather your courage, take a deep breath, and go for it. You will never know what is on the other side until you take the risk. Dare to do it. Dare to blossom.

With gratitude,
Carrie
Founder, Little Saps