What You Water Grows — And I Forgot to Water Me
I’ve always loved the saying “What you water grows.” It’s simple, yet deeply profound. For years, I poured water into everything and everyone around me—my family, my blog, my podcast, even strangers on the internet. I cheered others on, showed up when I barely had anything to give, and rooted myself in being the dependable one, the strong one, the “I’m fine” one.
But here’s the hard truth I had to face: I wasn’t watering myself.
And when you neglect your own soil, even the strongest roots start to crack.
I didn’t realize how parched my spirit was until it showed up in quiet ways. A lack of motivation. A sense of burnout that no nap could fix. Tears that came too easily ( and y’all the tears have been flowing lately). A gnawing feeling of being invisible in the very life I built.
I was giving from an empty well.
So I started doing something radical—I turned the watering can toward me.
I stopped saying yes to everything that drained me. I gave myself permission to rest without guilt. I invested time in things that filled my soul, not just my schedule. I started speaking kindly to myself again. I went for walks. I journaled. I watched silly shows without multitasking. I even started whispering “you matter too” to my reflection in the mirror.
And slowly, I began to bloom.
This isn’t a story with a perfect ending tied up in a bow. I still forget sometimes. I still slip into old habits. But now I catch it. I feel it in my bones when I’ve gone too long without tending to my own needs.
So if you’re out there giving and giving, please hear me when I say this:
You deserve the same love and care you so freely give others.
Water yourself.
Not just occasionally. Not just when you’re breaking down.
Water yourself daily—because what you water will grow.
And you, my friend, are worth growing.
