Bloom where you're planted

When I was in college, Mary Engelbreit products were sort of this cool thing that my friends (most of us Elementary Ed majors) liked and sometimes purchased. We generally liked the note pads, the sayings, and maybe the bookmarks. We didn't get into the little statues, coffee mugs, or the other trinkets. I think we were (and maybe I should just speak for myself - that is usually the safest route) drawn to the unique and vibrant colors, the detailed layering of multiple designs, and the heart-warming sayings. My favorite saying was always "Bloom where you're planted." I liked this suggestion and I have held onto it through a variety of my life's seasons.
So, in Mishawaka where I still don't have any new friends, it seemed wise to find other ways to bloom where I've been planted. The art class was one area to help myself grow, joining a women's group at the church was another, and getting to nurture growing greens was yet another. I'm literally creating blooms where I've been planted.

I started off by taking the seeds from a red bell pepper we'd eaten in a stir fry a few weeks ago and planting them into this great planter we got at IKEA. I also had seeds from one of my old bell pepper experiments that were 5 years old - that's right, I'd been holding onto them since 2002. I didn't know if there is an expiration on this sort of thing so I just threw them in for fun. And lastly I took the seeds from a banana pepper I'd used to make some fresh salsa while Ryan was away at his ASA conference in mid August.

While the 2002 seeds and the banana pepper haven't worked out, the red bell pepper has done really well. Here are my 3 planters after just a few days:
It's hard to see it here...but on the far left the bell pepper is starting to sprout - there are 2 teeny green buds. I don't expect you to see them in that photo above though.
There they are!! Two itty-bitty green sprouts. But even more exciting was what things looked like just 2 days later. Voila!

So those photos were essentially Day 3 and Day 5. But, wait a bit more....maybe until about Day 14 and you will see quite a transformation.

Tah Dah!

Now, I know that I can safely say (without sounding too pompous) that I am a reasonably likable person and I have some finely tuned professional skills. Hence, at some point I will make friends and I will get a job that is worthwhile and pays the bills.

But it didn't happened in 2 weeks time, unlike my little peppers' progress. And it isn't likely to happen in 2 months' time either since we are now venturing into week 8 of Mishawaka living.

But maybe I shouldn't always expect my personal and professional trajectory or timeline to progress quite the same as these little plants. After all, not all of the seeds I planted actually started to sprout. I would really like things to move more rapidly than they have, but I guess it is just a reminder that I'm not entirely in control of life or growth.

So, I'll plant more seeds - both figuratively and literally, and I'll turn things toward the sunny side of the apartment. Something is bound to grow, and bloom. I just have to give it more time and maybe mix in a different varietal.