On a whim I decided to include a small pumpkin plant in my garden this year. My husband was less than enthusiastic, because he remembered the one and only time I planted pumpkin over 20 years ago. The plant spread like wildfire and quickly took over the entire garden. Eventually it began creeping over the back yard to the house. It was almost scary. And we only ended up with one small pumpkin.

I told my husband not to worry, because the poor little plant was so small and puny that it probably had only a small chance of surviving. So, I gently patted the tiny plant in the ground, wished it well, and hoped for the best. Every few days I went to the garden, talked to it, and gave it words of encouragement. It worked.

It took over the entire garden, started creeping toward the house, and filled the garden with beautiful yellow blossoms. By the end of September, I was rewarded with 3 big, beautiful, and incredibly heavy pumpkins. Each one weighed close to 50 pounds.

The good news is that I was able to lift each one and carry it to the patio. I gifted one of them to a friend, and the others are still sunning themselves on the patio, waiting for me to decide what to do with them. I see a massive amount of pumpkin seeds and a freezer full of frozen pumpkin to enjoy throughout the winter.

I guess the old saying is right. We do reap what we sow. And maybe we should treat each other with the same careful attention I gave my pumpkin plant. And give each other words of encouragement and positive energy. If we did, I do believe that the world would be a better place.

After all, we reap what we sow.

Originally Published on https://www.cherylilov.com/blog/

Chery lIlov PT, GCFP

Cheryl Ilov is an author, speaker, dancer, martial artist, and physical therapist. She is also a former chronic pain patient who began a journey of self-discovery and self-healing after her medical team informed her that she would never recover. They were wrong.

Cheryl fired her medical team and found her own path to health and healing, as well as a journey of life-long learning. Her areas of expertise include the art of healing through movement, personal empowerment, and fitness over fifty. She is also the host of The FemiNinja Project podcast, which focuses on overcoming obstacles, personal empowerment, restoring human dignity, and alternative health and healing.