May 16

This is my tomato wunderkund.

It sprouted from a seed that actually fell to the side of one of the peat pellets in my grow tray. When I first noticed it, it was just sort of... there; off to the side looking small and frail with no soil covering its roots. I planted a number of seeds so I just left it alone and figured that at some point, nature would take its course (as they say).

But that never happened (at least not in the traditionally expected way). Instead, that little plant grew (and grew) until it surpassed the height of its tomatoey neighbors. Although it continued to have no dirt of its own, its little roots stretched out and reached into nearby pellets for sustenance. And at this moment, it's one of the strongest, greenest seedlings in my garden.

It's a powerful reminder to me that our circumstances don't always dictate our outcomes in this life. My little tomato plant started out behind the proverbial eight ball but kept growing and growing nonetheless. If that's not inspiration to keep going amid strife and struggles, I'm not sure what is.