Do you remember what it was like to run freely without a care in the world? Wind in your hair. Spinning and watching the skirt of your dress billow outwards. Tightly gripping to the freshly picked flowers in your hand. Gently falling down on a soft patch of grass, and taking an afternoon to simply watch the clouds in the sky. The front of my childhood home had a small little hill where I’d do exactly that before rolling down to meet my Barbies that were waiting for me in my stroller. Looking back, being a kid was so simple.
Fast forward 25 years later. As we get into adulthood, we start to learn more about the conflicts, challenges, and unpleasantries of the world. At the same time, we gain wisdom and hopefully develop a healthy awareness about ourselves and others.
“Hey little seedling, you’re growing so tall / Not a day goes by I remember how small / You were once sitting in the palm of my hand / Now you’re older, wiser, taking a stand”
As I watch the future generation continue to grow up, I can’t help but root for them along the way despite the very different world that they are growing up in compared to when I was a kid. I wrote “The Seedling Song” a couple years ago when I felt like life was knocking me down. However, simultaneously, I saw how my 3-year-old niece would be so pleased with herself as she sang and pulled carrots out of the ground in my backyard. She would pull so hard that she’d land on her bum, brush herself off, and then get right back up. She looked at me with a big smile on her face. I remembered how resilient and easy it was to get back up as a kid. Sure, my bum was physically much closer to the ground back then, but after mustering up enough courage, I would spring back up onto my feet, wipe away any tears, and keep going about my quest.
“Though the rain, wind, dark stormy clouds / Block the sun shining rays, don’t let it shroud / O’er the beauty, goodness, warmth in your heart / Let your roots sink deep and push through the dark”
As adults, the stakes are higher and heavier. Finding our center of gravity can be trickier, but more often than not, we anchor ourselves through the help of others and having faith. For me, that means firmly planting my feet, listening to the advice of those who came before me, seeking inspiration from those around me, and knowing that I’m never fully alone. The people who were here to lead and encourage me as a kid may not all be around anymore, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still rooting for me. Their love, legacies, and impacts remain strong in me. When the tough days come around, I remind myself to open my heart and mind, look up, and feel their warmth.
“Feel the sunshine / Go dance in the rain / Turn your gaze up / And run down the lane / Spin around with your arms out and look to the sky / Because everything’s gonna be alright”
This song is a metaphor. It’s about remembering those who paved the way for us so that we could have brighter futures. It’s about human nature and how we all seek respect, belonging, and acceptance. Ultimately, I hope this song brings you and others comfort, joy, and encouragement to live in the moment. Keep going. You got this.
With words by Keili Fernando.
