Not prefect,But still Alive
Good day my wonderful people, my fellow lovers of simple living and real growth. I greet you all with so much warmth and appreciation. I hope your day is going well, your efforts are yielding something meaningful, and your hearts are steady no matter what season you find yourselves in. It is always a beautiful thing to come into this space and share not just stories of success, but honest moments that reflect what homesteading truly looks like.
The leaves were full of holes.
Not just one or two, but many. It looked like something had been feeding on the plant for days. The damage was obvious. Parts of the leaves were missing, and what remained looked stressed and uneven. I stood there for a moment, just looking at it, and I won’t lie I felt discouraged.
For a brief moment, I almost dismissed the plant. I thought to myself, “Maybe this one won’t survive.” It is easy to think that way when what you see is damage instead of progress. But something made me pause. I didn’t walk away immediately. I stayed a little longer and looked again, this time more carefully.
The stem was firm. It was not bent or broken. The color was still green, not pale or dry. It was not dying. It was not giving up. It was simply… continuing.
That was when my perspective began to shift.
I realized that I had focused so much on what was wrong with the plant that I almost ignored what was still right. Yes, the leaves were damaged. Yes, insects had clearly fed on it. But the plant itself was alive. It was still growing. It was still reaching upward, as if nothing had happened.
I felt a lesson.
Homesteading has a way of teaching you things you didn’t even know you needed to learn. Not through books or instructions, but through simple, everyday experiences. That okra plant became one of those teachers for me.
It reminded me that growth is not always perfect.
We often imagine that when something is growing well, it should look beautiful, smooth, and untouched. But that is not how nature works. Insects will come. Weather will change. Soil conditions will vary. And yet, life continues.
I stood there and thought about how often we, as humans, react differently. When we face challenges, when something takes from us, when things don’t go the way we planned, we sometimes feel like stopping. We question ourselves. We feel discouraged. We lose motivation.
But here was a plant, rooted in the ground, unable to move, unable to defend itself in the way we can, and yet it continued to grow.
I bent down slightly and touched one of the leaves. It felt soft but still strong. Even with the holes, it was still doing its job. It was still part of the plant’s survival. That alone was enough to make me rethink what strength really looks like.
Strength is not always about being untouched.
Sometimes, strength is about continuing despite what has been taken from you.
That was all.
And somehow, that felt enough.
As I walked away from the plant, I didn’t feel discouraged anymore. Instead, I felt calm. It may sound strange, but that small moment gave me a sense of reassurance.
It reminded me that life does not have to be perfect to be meaningful.
There are times when we all feel like that plant.
We go through situations that leave marks on us. We experience things that take away parts of our confidence, our energy, or even our peace. From the outside, it may look like we are not doing well. It may look like we are struggling.
But inside, we are still growing.
We are still trying.
We are still moving forward, even if it is slow and unnoticed.
That is something we don’t always give ourselves credit for.
That okra plant was not perfect, but it was alive.
And sometimes, being alive and still growing is more than enough.
Another thing that stayed with me was the fact that I did not plant it intentionally. It grew on its own, in a place that was not prepared. That alone speaks volumes.
It tells me that not all growth needs planning.
Not all progress needs perfect conditions.
Sometimes, life begins in unexpected places and still finds a way to thrive.
That thought alone is comforting.
Because it means that even when we feel unprepared, even when our environment is not ideal, even when things don’t seem right, growth is still possible.
That is the beauty of nature.
And that is the beauty of this lifestyle.
That one okra plant taught me all of that in just a few minutes.
And I am grateful for it.
As the day went on, I found myself more attentive to the little things around me. I noticed other plants, other signs of growth, other quiet struggles happening in my space. It made me realize that there is always something to learn if we are willing to look closely.
Sometimes, the lessons we need are right in front of us.
We just have to slow down enough to see them.
Look closely.
Observe.
There is always a story there.
And sometimes, that story will reflect something in your own life.
Maybe you will see strength where you thought there was weakness.
Maybe you will find hope where you expected disappointment.
Maybe you will realize that you are doing better than you thought.
Because just like that okra plant, you may have gone through things that left marks on you.
But you are still here.
You are still standing.
You are still growing.
And that matters more than perfection ever will.
I also want to remind us that in this journey, it is okay to do things simply. We don’t always need the best tools, the best soil, or the best conditions. Sometimes, what we have is enough.
A little effort.
A little care.
A little patience.
These things go a long way.
It connects you to reality.
It keeps you grounded.
It teaches you without forcing you.
And most importantly, it shows you that life, in all its imperfection, is still beautiful.
I hope this simple story encourages you in one way or another. Whether in your homestead or in your personal life, may you find strength to keep going, even when things are not perfect.
Sending you all love, peace, and steady growth always.
