In Defense of Small Things

Ever read that children's book, The Carrot Seed, where the little boy plants his seed, and no one thinks anything will come of it. Not even his own momma. But we waters it and pulls the weeds, even while nothing is happening and the ground seems as barren as that land Ethiopia and Eritrea are fighting over. When the carrot finally does sprout, it's so big the boy's wheelbarrow can barely carry it. All from that little seed.

Maybe it's all just a coincidence, but check out this collage about relationships I made in the late 90's, (probably after a break up or something). I found it in my old bedroom on my trip home to NYC last summer. Notice Michael Jordan's Nike logo, and the words 'art' and 'film'.

Notice the words 'film', 'art', and the Michael Jordan insignia. Though the collage has all white guys in it, I went on to have my longest relationship (before the Serb, that is) with a black Londoner of Trinidadian origin. I'm not sure why I cut out the word 'film'. I just went through magazines and found words that spoke to me. I pasted them on a page, went on with my life and forgot about it until recently.

How creepy that I'm now in a relationship with a former pro ball player and actor (with the same size shoe as MJ). Coincidence that one of my best friends is a manager for actors and now manages him? Coincidence? Or did I plant that seed?

I know how it sounds. All woo-woo and new age. However, the proof is there. Seed, water, faith---> big ass carrot. Or whatever the equivalent of a big ass carrot is for you.

The great thing about a seed is that it is a small thing. The smallest of things. Even a crappy collage.

The great life coaches and personal development gurus (and I mean that in the strictest sense of the word, 'teacher') agree on the power of seeds and small things and the great big results they yield.

Chris Guillebeau's gonna visit every single country on earth by 2012, I think. He runs the popular site The Art of NonConformity. In his book of the same name, subtitled, "Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want and Change the World", Chris tells the story of Allan, a regular office working guy with a wife, 3 frickin daughters and a mortgage who decides to experiment with his life. Make time and space in his stable life for a little adventure. First he picks up wife, kids, zero French language skills, and move to Paris for a year. The family returns to the States after a year, and Allan finds a way to keep his benefits and stability with the same company, but arranging it so he can work part time and out of the office. Did I mention he has a wife and 3 frickin daughters? Guillebeau writes,

"Allan traces the root cause of the transition to his "Life Experiments," even the simple things like visiting art museums or taking up photography on the weekends. In his words, the impact of the experiments was "way out of proportion" to the experiments themselves." 

John Demartini was featured in The Secret, but really, his genius goes way beyond anything that film has to offer. He teaches that it only takes 7 seconds of holding a picture in your mind to start yourself on the course to achieving something.

Marie Forleo, author of Make Every Man Want You (How to Become So Irresistible You Can Barely Keep From Dating Yourself), dancer, fitness coach turned serious business coach, teaches that just a walk can get you unstuck, and reap new energy and ideas.

We are all sick to death of the Eat, Pray, Love references when it comes to this kind of thing, but damn it, Elizabeth Gilbert filled the tub and sat in there reading an Italian dictionary for months before her tri-country get my groove back plan hatched. Millions upon millions of women bought into it because it was effective. There was a kernel of truth in there. A seed.

What's your seed? Your tiny you-directed, you-generated action that you'll water with faith until it sprouts?

Update** The Chris Guillebeau commented on this post! Totally geeking out right now.