Lessons from the sage plant.
Good things take time grow.
Thoughts on gardening and building a sustainable therapy practice.
For those don’t know me, I’m an avid gardener. Planning, dreaming, planting, digging and weeding might be the only way (other than the dancing!) where I am truly in the moment. I absolutely love the grit and hard work that gardening takes and of course, savor each bite of those hard-earned veggies or glimpse of a chubby bumble bee on a flower I’ve planted. One of the first lessons most of us learn while gardening, is the difference between annuals (a plant that is enjoyed for one season) versus perennials (a plant that comes back year after year). When you first plant a perennial, they are not usually as dramatic and showy as annuals. Picture planting a woody herb like sage or thyme vs a tomato plant. Depending on the variety, in the beginning, culinary sage may start out as a very small plant that leafs out but doesn’t really do all that much at first. Sure it smells good, but, it’s by no means a show stopper. Now picture a tomato plant. Within three to four short months, these guys go gangbusters! Depending on the year, their huge, gangly vines take over your garden while supplying you with gorgeous, juicy, brightly colored fruit!! And then it’s done.
Hmm…
This summer, the sage plants, catmint, yarrow and other perennials I have grown around our home have slowly become show stoppers in their own right. Each spring, they emerge, on their own with no oversight from me. They have expanded in size and host heaps of herbs and gorgeous flowers for the tea, the bees, and beautiful landscaping for our home.
Whole Child Wellness has had years that it did feel like quite the show-stopper. But this one wo-man show gets very tired trying to produce, produce, produce!!!
Opening the roOT House on Evans is proving to be more sage than tomato. We are quietly, step by step, nourishing it’s growth and hoping for a bountiful fall. But, more than likely, this will be a gradual process. We hope to begin seeing clients at Whole Child Wellness in the Fall of 2026. Taking time to do each step right while curating the right collection of providers to rent space takes time. In order to make it a truly warm, safe space that can sustain long-term success, this process will have to be slower than I want it to be.
The sage plant is reminding me that the key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Progress comes from showing up, not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real you can rely on.
You’re invited to follow along to see what Whole Child Wellness and it’s new home the roOT House is becoming.