When diagnosed with bipolar in May 1995, it felt l...

When diagnosed with bipolar in May 1995, it felt like the end. Many of my dreams felt like they were ending. I imagined I would never be more than a drooling zombie, disconnected from the world and the people I loved.

Accepting my mental illness and finding the right combination of medications to keep me stable was challenging, but I eventually got there. Yet, when I examined my life, it still felt like my biggest dreams would never happen.

I’m an extremely stubborn person. It’s a family trait that my mom says comes from our German ancestry. Whatever it is, when I put my mind to something, come hell or high water, I’m going to accomplish it.

Yet, when I came out of my bipolar stupor, I worried that even holding a job consistently would be impossible.

It was then I thought of redwood seeds. Though the seeds are tiny, each one has the potential of becoming a tree a thousand feet high. I knew I could create seeds in my life.

I made a plan, and started to make small changes. Those tiny acts, such as forcing myself to bed at night and then up again when the alarm went off, each felt like meaningless actions, but each was a seed making future growth possible. I have worked 30–40 hours per week every week since the end of 1995.

Take a few minutes today to think about what you’ve already accomplished. If you are fighting an illness, what steps have you taken to understand and treat your condition? How has your treatment improved your life so far?

If you’re one of the lucky ones and are not fighting a chronic illness, think about another challenge in your life you need to overcome. What success have you achieved already? What small step can you take next?

You can fit about a dozen redwood seeds on a dime, but each of those seeds could grow to be a mighty tree. Every seed holds the power. What will you do with yours?

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