You’re Growing Something Every Day — But Is It Hurting You or Feeding You?

By Dylan J. England | Health, Fitness & Development Coach

Sometimes, the biggest life lessons show up in the smallest places.

Like a lemon tree.

Years ago, my brother-in-law decided to take a few lemon seeds from a drink he got at Buffalo Wild Wings. He planted them. Watered them. Nurtured them.

Eventually, those seeds grew into two small trees. He kept one and gave the other to a friend’s parents.

Here’s the twist:
The one he gave away ended up becoming fruitful. Lemons actually grew.

It got me thinking…

Lemon trees aren’t supposed to grow in Michigan. Our cold winters, unpredictable frosts, and lack of sunlight make it almost impossible without extreme care and consistent effort.

So when one does grow — and produces fruit — it’s because a lot of things went right.

The Perfect Conditions for Growth (and Life)

For a lemon tree to thrive, it needs:

The right soil pH
Plenty of sun
Protection from wind, pests, and frost
Consistent temperature
Good drainage and fertilization
Pruning and pollination

The number of conditions that need to line up is incredible.

And it made me reflect:

How many things have had to go right in your life for you to be here today?

Gratitude in the Midst of Convenience

We often take the complexity of our lives for granted.

Think about it — if you’re reading this right now, you have:

Access to technology
The physical and mental capacity to understand these words
The ability to choose how you spend your time

You live in a world where planes can take you across the country in hours. Where we’ve engineered convenience into everything — escalators, elevators, cars, mobile ordering.

Yet, despite all that… we still focus so much on what’s not going right.

It’s called the hedonic treadmill — the human tendency to quickly return to a baseline of dissatisfaction, no matter how many external gains we achieve.

But what if you could step off that treadmill?

Shift Your Focus, Change Your Life

Your brain has something called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It filters the information your brain receives — highlighting what you choose to focus on.

Focus on frustration? You’ll find more of it.
Focus on gratitude? You’ll start seeing the good more often.

It’s like watering a plant:

You get more of whatever you nourish — even if what you’re feeding is toxic.

So I’ll Ask You This…

Are you feeding the lemon tree in your life — with gratitude, healthy routines, and personal growth?
Or are you unintentionally nurturing the nightshade — habits, mindsets, and environments that keep you stuck?

Storms will come. They always do.

But it’s how we prepare, protect, and recover that determines whether we grow stronger or become bitter.

What Are You Choosing to Fertilize?

We can justify bitterness. We can nurture excuses. We can water our weeds. But in the end, we’re still left with the consequences of what we grow.

Here’s the truth:

Our lives are the outcome of the small choices we make — every single day.

You don’t need to feel happy 24/7.
You don’t need to be perfect.
But you do need to be intentional about where your energy is going.

Because both the lemon tree and the nightshade will grow — but only one of them will bear fruit.

Want to Hear the Full Episode?

This story comes from my podcast, The Practical Edge, where I share personal stories, mindset strategies, and actionable tools to redesign your life with clarity and purpose.

🎙️ Listen to this episode on my website:
👉 dylanjengland.com/the-practical-edge-podcast

Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🌱 Ready to Grow Into Your Next Chapter?

If you’re tired of feeling stuck and want to take back control of your health, habits, and mindset — I’d love to coach you through it.

Check out my coaching programs for high-performing professionals ready to align their life with purpose, energy, and fulfillment.

What you water is what grows.

So today — and every day moving forward — choose carefully.

Because your fruit is coming… but only if you’ve been planting the right seeds.

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Ready for a coach who can help you sharpen these habits for life?
Check out my coaching program at www.dylanjengland.com. Let’s build the foundation for your best life—together.

👉 Visit our blog for more tips: dylanjengland.com/reading-blog
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Have questions or need personalized guidance? Email us: Fitnesstherapyde@gmail.com

Let’s make your goals a reality—together.

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