June Theme: The Messy Middle
Last month, my friends and I checked out the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago. At a bookstore, they were hosting some of the local community farm/garden organizations and one of them was giving out sunflowers seeds. I took some and over the Memorial Day weekend I planted them in little pots on my deck. Within days, most of the seeds have sprouted and some of them are already 6 inches tall!
Sunflowers are annuals, they live only one season. In order to grow into the majestic, towering flower we know, they got a lot to do in a little bit of time so they’d better get a move on.
With the official start of summer behind us, it's fair to say we’re officially entering the middle of the year. And honestly? This is a great season. For kids, summer means freedom, sunshine and a break from the routine. For us adults, we often truck along as if nothing is different, but it’s a golden opportunity to pause, look around and take stock of where we are.
Right now, my tiny sunflower sprouts are entering their own crucial middle phase. Before they ever open up into those iconic, heavy golden blooms, young sunflowers practice something called heliotropism (yes, I had to do the google on this one). Every single day, their growing stalks actively track the sun from east to west. And every single night, in total darkness, they quietly reset themselves to face east again, eagerly waiting for dawn.
Here’s a quick shot of my sunflowers a week after being planted. They’ve been busy! I can't wait to see how they thrive this summer.
The metaphor writes itself. These flowers show us that the daily, optimistic reset is exactly what the "middle" invites us to do.
The middle of anything has its own distinct feeling. It’s the space where the initial excitement of a clean slate has faded, that “new car smell” has dissipated, but the finish line isn't yet in sight. It’s the center point of the transitions we are navigating, whether that’s in our careers, our personal goals or even the way our bodies and minds evolve as we journey through the middle of our lives.
Some of these middles are by choice, others are not and often it doesn't feel good when we’re here. Our little sunflower friends remind us that even in the deepest darkness of the night, growth doesn't stop. They don't just wait for things to get better; they quietly reposition themselves in the dark so they are ready to catch the very first ray of morning light. They remind us that we have the power to reset our focus, every single day.
This month, we're pausing right here in the center to talk about all the middles.
Like those resilient little sprouts navigating the dark, the middle doesn't have to feel stuck; it’s a dynamic space where we get to intentionally decide where to point ourselves every single morning. This month, we're pausing right here in the center to celebrate, explore, and honor all the middles.
-Kristina
If you are managing a messy middle and need some help, consider working with us! We offer coaching for your First and Second spaces. Click here to learn more.
