My grandmother used to say ‘every mickle mekia muckle’. In other words, every little bit counts. One of my meditation teachers says ‘bean by bean, the bag gets full’. Same, Same.
Across cultures, this is a universal truth. Small acts add up. Good or bad. There is an accumulated impact mentally, spiritually and physically. The repetitive process can actually change how out brains are structured. This is the foundation of neuroplasticity. New neural pathways can be created and reinforced by small, repetitive actions.
I recorded small stretching videos or small videos of meditation and I called them Fabaceous Friday. Fabaceous was a word I stumbled across that means ‘bean’. Ha! I just had to run with that. So here I am writing on another Fabaceous Friday and I’m actually writing about 3 little beans.
I found these beautiful beans that had wintered in the pocket of my fall coat. My friend Shannon gifted me these beans and I had forgotten about them. When we had an usually warm day a few weeks ago, I went to wash my warm weather jackets and lo and behold, in my pocket were these 3 beans. Now, I had totally forgotten what type of beans they were, but I found myself taken in by this surprise. My son and I decided to plant them. With a sense of adventure, we found pots and soil to cover our little friends, and hoped for the best.
I often feel like that in my own life. Sometimes, I feel like a dried up bean. I don’t know what lies inside me. I’m not even sure what type of bean I am! If I’m lucky enough to find myself covered in the muck and darkness, I may have a chance to grow. So I wait. Wait to see what happens. Wait to see if the rain comes. Wait for some sun. Will I sprout? Who knows.
Even when we finally sprout, we know there’s time and care involved to grow stronger roots and to start bearing fruit. I am happy to report that my 3 little beans have all poked out their sprouts. All at different times, but all 3 beautiful none the less. Even in the same environment, our response can be so individual. I learn so much about myself through planting and nurturing things. It’s a big part of who I am. I’m excited to see what I can learn and share by watching these three resilient beans grow. Here’s to a Fabaceous Friday. May each little act bring you closer to truth.
Walk gently,
M.
