One fine day, a pigeon decided to lay two eggs in the pot where my beloved Tulsi plant grew.
I had nurtured this plant for a long time—it was part of my daily prayers, my little ritual of connection. But when I saw those fragile eggs nestled safely in the pot, I couldn’t bring myself to water it. I knew that if I did, it might disturb the little lives growing inside. So, I stepped back and let nature take its course.
Days turned into weeks, and as the baby pigeons slowly hatched and grew, my Tulsi plant withered away. The leaves dried up, the branches turned brittle, and it seemed like I had lost something dear. But watching those little birds take their first flight filled me with awe. They had found safety and warmth in my plant, and now they were ready to embrace the world. Their journey felt symbolic in some way, yet I couldn’t shake off the sadness of losing my Tulsi.
After the pigeons had gone, I stood by the dried-up plant, wondering if it was truly the end. A part of me wanted to uproot it and move on, but something inside whispered, “Give it another chance.” So, I started watering it again—not with much hope, but with a quiet belief that maybe, just maybe, life still remained.
And then, something magical happened. Tiny green shoots began to emerge from what once seemed lifeless. Each day, as I continued to care for it, the plant responded. Slowly but surely, it started to come back to life. It felt like a message straight from nature: It is never too late.
This experience touched me deeply because it wasn’t just about the Tulsi plant—it was about me, about all of us. There are times when we feel like we’ve dried up, lost our spark, or reached a point of no return. Life happens, and we put ourselves on hold. We stop nourishing our souls, thinking it’s too late to heal, too late to start over. But the truth is, just like this plant, we can always revive ourselves, no matter how far gone we feel.
Life starts showing up once you show up for yourself.
The moment I started watering the Tulsi again, it responded. And that’s exactly how we work too. The moment we choose to care for ourselves, to provide the right environment for growth—whether it’s through rest, love, self-compassion, or simply allowing ourselves a fresh start—life begins to flow again.
So if you’re feeling lost, tired, or unsure, remember: you are never too far gone. You can always begin again. Just like my Tulsi, all you need is a little care, a little patience, and the belief that life is always ready to meet you where you are.
With love,
Swati Mishra