There are seeds of greatness in all of us

There are seeds of greatness in all of us                                                       010810

                A seed is a miniature plant with all the information that is needed to make a plant do all it is supposed to do. There are different types of plants and, therefore, different types of seeds. All seeds have one thing in common; they all have a plant and food store. When the conditions for the seed to germinate are all available, the plant starts to grow, and for the first few days, it feeds on the food available in the seed before it can start producing its own.

                Every plant needs roots and leaves. There is a part in the seed that develops into a root system once germination starts. It starts to grow downwards and begins to draw the water that every plant needs to grow healthily. Another part develops into a shoot that grows upwards and grows into a stem on which leaves grow. For some plants the first leaves develop from the food store that was part of the seed.

                The function of the root system is to provide nutrients needed by the plant to grow. Roots also draw water for the plant’s daily requirements. There is, therefore, need for the plant to develop a strong enough root system so that all its needs are met. A plant that grows tall needs the roots to grow deep so that they can support the tree when it is fully grown. Plants do not walk around to get their food so the roots should be able to draw all the water and nutrients that are needed by the plant.

                The leaves, on the other hand, produce food for the plant. Without the leaves a plant will not be able to make this food. Leaves are basically the factory where food for all the living things is produced. Animals rely on green plants to make them food. If there are no green plants then all the animals will die. Plants, however, make the food to meet their own needs. They need food for energy. Plants need energy for growth, for pumping necessary nutrients from the ground, and to carry out the energy producing process itself.

                 What do the following names represent to you? Pele? Albert Einstein? Oprah Winfrey?  Nelson Mandela? Princess Diana?  Michael Jackson? Mother Theresa? Thomas Edison? Brenda Fassie? I am sure you agree that all these men and women are (were) great in their own right. They, however, found greatness in different fields. If you were asked to compile a list of great people you know, I am sure your list would be endless and that it would include people from a thousand different fields.

For you to be called great you do not have to do what another individual has done. A gum tree has to be tall and straight for it to be good to make timber, for which it is planted. If all mango trees were as tall as a gum tree then no one would enjoy mangos. Only a few without the fear of heights and with ladders would enjoy the fruit. Both trees can afford to be different but being great at the same time. 

Every one of us has some seeds of greatness in us. This does not mean we will do exactly what our role models have done. We all have in us the required material to form some roots and some leaves and enough food stores to establish us in the area that we can be great in. Everyone needs a root system that will be needed to make sure that we are kept on the go in the areas that we choose. These roots are a support system that stems from our background. We get from the place we grew up some basic ideas of how to achieve what we need. Our interests are not in us by mistake. They were placed there so that we can achieve something great. If you develop a good system of support from those you know they will keep encouraging you when you meet obstacles along the way.

There is also need for a food production factory to keep you provided with the energy you need for growth. There is no end to education. You must keep learning about the field that you pursue so that you can remain productive. If you stop learning then you cannot continue to grow. In the same way that a plant needs to continue to produce its own food for it to grow, you need to continue learning if you are to become great in every area of your life. Without learning you cannot grow to become great.

Every great man and woman you know did not start great. They only had a seed; the same as you have today. They chose, however, to let the seed in them germinate and grow into something that everyone admires. A seed can be easily missed but a full grown tree is unmistakable. There are some who may not recognize you for anything today, but this is because your greatness is still a seed. Be diligent enough to keep feeding it with knowledge and one day people will be surprised when the best in you comes out. You are great and you can manifest your greatness if you stop comparing yourself with others. Your greatness should never be compared with another person’s greatness because the seed in you is different from every other seed around.