I Am a Seed

“They tried to bury us. They did not know we were seeds.” - Mexican proverb This quote can be traced back to the Greek poet, Dinos Christianopoulos, and was popularized by the Mexicans that used it as a catalyst during a civil protest. This quote had a powerful effect on my transformation, but I soon realized that without acceptance, love, and nurturing, the seed can’t grow. This was, in fact, what the poet Christianopoulos realized in his fight for survival. I was able to grow because I got rid of the people who did not fall into those categories, and I surrounded myself with those people who accepted me like my close friends, those who loved me like my family, and those who nourished me like my coworkers. Shelley is my best friend, and she not only had all three qualities, but she could see the possibility of the seed, of the me that could become that tree. In 2012 I was fired from the company I helped create, that day my friend and business partner decided to sell the company. This resulted in a 9-year court battle where they tried, and almost succeeded, in burying me. They didn’t know I was a seed they didn’t know I was surrounded by Love. As time went by, I grew, and so did my list of friends. They were the reasons I not only survived, but now I can be the acceptance, the love, and the nourishment that other seeds need. What I now realize is that we’re all seeds, we need to see our kids as seeds, we need to see our friends as seeds, we need to see our co-workers as seeds. Once I finally understood that I wasn’t here to tell or teach, but rather to accept, love, and nourish, I saw the seeds grow. The word consider comes from the Latin considerare, “To look at closely, observe”—to literally “observe the stars”. Also, in the late fourteenth century, “to meditate upon”. I love the word consider, it helps us understand without being told what to do, but rather to observe, to think about, and examine our thoughts on the subject. While journaling is a very personal journey, using considerations to explore our lives can be the beginning of the journey. Consider your truth, consider your thought, consider your emotions, consider your decisions, consider your reactions, consider a better life. Consider journaling as a discovery to a better life. Consider that you are a seed. One of the best lessons in my life was taken from the book of Habits; what you do daily more than anything else will influence your future. I built 31 daily non-negotiable habits that are the foundation for my life. I wanted to share one that has changed my life. Journaling helped me identify the most important things in my life and what made me who I am. It helped me start again and grow, it helped me see that am a seed. It was, to me, the foundation for changing my life because it was the most difficult part—inner reflection. There are many ways to ask yourself deep questions about your behaviors and your emotions and ultimately your decisions, but this is my favorite because writing in a journal has a special effect on your brain. You think, you write, and then you read. Your brain has three inputs, and it has a bigger effect on your change than just reading or reflecting alone. What do you write about? Great question. I will share with you some things I write in my journal and then ask you to consider something in your life. I truly hope that this book of considerations will help you form the habit of journaling. The second question people ask me: What if someone reads my journal? Well, if they read it and see a human, wrap them up and keep them. If they judge . . . it’s time to move on. Lastly, why sixty-six days? Because studies have shown that it now takes an average of sixty-six days to form a new habit. Each daily consideration takes but a few minutes—to read and write—and the importance is on the small daily journaling done, if possible, first thing in the morning. So, do it daily and make this your non-negotiable. Don’t feel you have to fill all the space or follow the rules. There are no rules. There are simply guidelines. Follow your heart. These are small considerations, small bits of nourishment for the seed I see in you. Thank you so much for your time and energy, and I truly hope this will help you make your life just a little better each day. Yves Doucet