Driving home last week I was sad.
The verges were filled with browns and golds, the greens all faded and gone. Now, this usually would excite me—the start of autumn, the changing of the leaves.
But this wasn’t that.
The countryside is burnt to a crisp from the heat of the sun. An exceptional heatwave hit the UK in July, and then a second hit at the beginning of August and all the plants and wildlife have shriveled and many perished.
Everything looks beyond saving. It feels like we will never have our beautiful green countryside back.
But yesterday something amazing happened. The rain came.
Not particularly heavy, but enough to quench the dried scorched earth.
And already this morning there is change.
It’s all a little fresher, a little greener and it reminded me that even a little change can make a big difference.
One small thing, an act of kindness or a smile from a stranger can change your mindset and make even the most difficult days feel a little bit easier. And you don’t have to rely on waiting for others. Give yourself an evening of self-care. A candlelit bath, or eat a bag of your favourite snacks. Just pause in the moment to let yourself enjoy these simple pleasures, you will begin to feel refreshed. Begin to feel stronger and ready to flourish again.
Even in the most desperate times, watering your soul will help you find the strength to grow and blossom another day.