“Step by step and the thing is done.” Charles Atlas.

As I sit down to write this week’s blog, the UK has been hit by some quite extreme weather.

We have had large quantities of snow fall. We have had freezing temperatures, strong winds, severe disruption to transport and traffic and the closure of many schools.

It’s quite ironic really because we have officially entered spring!

Unfortunately, it doesn’t feel very spring like at the moment. Prior to the snow falling, I had been delighted to see the daffodils start to break into flower. Sadly they are buried under snow at present!

I love spring time, when the bulbs start to peak through the earth and then burst out into a variety of beautiful colours. Whenever I see daffodils in flower it reminds me that whatever we plant in life takes time to grow but eventually our patience is rewarded.

It also reminds me of the story of the Daffodil garden and the powerful lessons it teaches us. Here is the story:

The Daffodil Garden

Every year, high in the San Bernardino mountain range of Southern California, five acres of beautiful daffodils burst into bloom. Amazingly, this special spot, known as “The Daffodil Garden,” was planted by one person, Gene Bauer, one bulb at a time, beginning in 1958.

This story originally appeared in Jaroldeen Edwards’ book Celebration! The story contains details of a mother being taken to see the daffodils in bloom by her daughter Julie.

Apparently, Gene Bauer’s house (which was adjacent to the field of daffodils) had a poster on it which said:-

Answers to the questions I know that you are asking:-

  • 50,000 bulbs
  • one at a time
  • by one woman
  • 2 hands, 2 feet
  • and very little brain
  • Began in 1958

Gene Bauer planted one bulb at a time to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. Still, this unknown old woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of magnificent beauty and inspiration by planting at least one bulb every day for many years until she got to 50,000 planted bulbs.

The life lessons her daffodil garden taught are:

  • Learn to move towards our goals and desires one step at a time (often just one baby-step at a time)
  • Ensure that we get pleasure from and love the doing
  • Learn to use the accumulation of time

This is what the mother said to her daughter after seeing the flowers in full bloom:-.

“It makes me sad in a way,” I admitted to Julie, “What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five years ago and had worked away at it ‘one bulb at a time’ through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!”

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her direct way, “Start tomorrow, Mum,” she said, “It’s so pointless to think of the lost hours of our yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson a celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, how can I put this to use today?”

This story also reminds us that when we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things.

We have it in our gift to change the part of the world that we occupy with our unique contribution.

Life is all about small margins, there’s often a tiny difference between winning and losing, success and failure, hitting or missing a target. A small action could be the thing that makes a difference and leads to a successful result.

It can also be all that is needed to get something that is stuck or stalled moving again.

Is there a task or goal that you are putting off?

This week, why not take a few moments out to reflect and consider what action step(s) you could take to make progress towards a personal goal or vision that you have.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk ;