What do you call the middle of the summer? 

This seems to be when I would pull back and take a breath in another time of my life. 

When I tossed the lace up shoes to the side after a morning run and then got to the next part of the day. 

It was when I could seek new growth with others in my world. 

Often this time included going on adventures on roads to new places. 

Over mountains and up dirt roads to sit among tall pine trees and wide-open lakes with a warm blanket to wrap up in as the stars popped overhead. 

The time to seek those roads came when we each needed to take time to reflect on who we were becoming and what the next range of goals could include. 

I think about the many people who have sat with me in spaces and look at them now. 

Have we continued to see new growth?

Have we continued to seek new growth? 

Perhaps the simple reminder of the pine tree has called to me with this recent view. 

Do you see how the new growth on this branch popped right through the barrier that was placed before it? 

I like to think about the energy this tree used in its natural use of water and sunshine to keep doing what it was meant to do. 

Grow. 

Look at the green needles and how they pushed right out of the end of the branch. 

Or what was the end before the tree kept on going. 

What is happening here could be what I did for years with others on mountains. 

I would talk as the road was before me while traveling and then as the stars came out. 

Here are a few things that come to me as I continue to learn from those years of going up dirt roads and beyond. 

When I was at the end of a long run and ready to toss my shoes into the closet, I would write down how far I had come that day and my route. 

Doing this helped me remember that even when I was tired, I could look back later and go over what had gone well, plan for it again and maybe how to keep my feet going longer or stronger. 

It may help me run smarter next time.

When I need to see new growth now, it may be that I lace up again.

When I am going into another time when I need to seek new growth now, it may be that I lace up those shoes again and review a running plan. 

It could also mean that I lace up my mental strength and get into my planning in an entirely different way. 

Have you had that come into your space yet? 

I say yet because if your plans have not been altered before, then they may in the future. 

Taking what has worked for you in your past may be exactly how you are able to keep rolling into your new world. 

Would that be a possibility to consider? 

You may be thinking about it so keep it there for now. 

There is another part of what I have learned from where I have come from on those mountains and dirt roads. 

Seeking new growth may not be what you are looking for at all.

Seeking new growth may not be what you are looking for at all and then suddenly it is what is before you. 

Once there was a time when I could climb up any boulder, scurry over any rock face and keep pace with even our long-legged son. 

Taking road trips, going on boats and jumping into lakes to swim for hours was how I worked. 

Creating time to dance and a year of play was a never-ending part of the day. 

Then the dancing changed and now I have slowed a bit. 

Looking at ways to seek new growth is part of my day now. 

I had an opportunity to go on a new trail recently with a friend. 

We decided to stop at a random trailhead and go left as we looked at the sunrise bursting through the treetops. 

It became a time to decide if we would continue down the way we were going or head up a steeper incline. 

We took the incline and found even more bright moments that led to new ways of thinking for me. 

Do you find that going in a new way can who you how strong you are?

Do you find that going in a new way can show you how strong you are? 

It was a fun surprise to see that looking at things with support from others brought me back to a beginning. 

I was on a new dirt trail after going up a mountain sitting near tall trees. 

Time had brought it all to a full circle. 

When I seek new growth there is an opportunity right there to become again. 

Time was there for me again to pop through the end, or what I thought was the end, to keep going. 

My friends, what if we do this. 

I will remember where I’ve come from, the roads that brought me here and the strength yet to come. 

Let the new growth come from where you’ve been. I’m here to see what you become!