Word of the Week: Harvest

When we talk about harvest, most of us picture golden fields, overflowing baskets, or maybe the first crisp bite of an apple in September. But harvest isn’t just about produce. It’s about patience.

Harvest is about tending to what we’ve planted, knowing that each seed has its own timing.

Some seeds sprout quickly, like that new habit you pick up with ease. Others take seasons, or even years, before they show the first signs of growth. And then there are seeds that remain in the dark longer than we want, teaching us that waiting is part of the process.

Remember, my friend. You can’t force a seed.

You can water, nourish, and give it sunlight, but you can’t rush the unseen work happening beneath the soil. If you’re still waiting for your “harvest” - whether it’s healing, clarity, stability, or something else - trust that your care is not wasted.

The timing will come.

This is absolutely easier said than done. Because we want to hit fast forward on life and get to the good parts. The revelations, the reaping of reward...

Here’s the part we often forget: the goodness isn’t only in the harvest itself, it’s in the growing.

Every season of tending teaches us something.

• When you’re waiting, you learn patience.

• When you’re pruning, you learn discernment.

• When you’re watering, you learn consistency.

These lessons are the nutrients that will sustain your future self, long after this particular harvest has come and gone.

So yes, the fruit of your labor matters. But so does the woman you’re becoming in the process. Every part of the growing season is shaping you, preparing you, and giving you tools that your future self will lean on when the next seed is planted.

Growing Into the Harvest

I hate waiting. Especially when I am tired of all the "growing" and know what I'm working towards will make a big impact. So when I feel myself getting flustered and impatient and trying to force my growth or get to the harvest quicker, I try these little exercises:

• Keep a Gratitude-for-the-Growing List - Instead of only waiting for the big outcome, jot down the small signs of life along the way. The baby steps, the little sparks of progress, or even the lessons learned when things feel stalled.

• Name the Invisible Work - A lot happens underground before a sprout appears. Write down the things you’re doing that no one else may notice. Showing up to therapy, setting boundaries, making a healthier choice, resting when you’re tired.

• Practice Gentle Rituals of Care - While the seed grows, keep nourishing yourself. This could be a weekly walk, lighting a candle while you journal, or simply making your morning coffee a few minutes slower and more intentional.

• Celebrate Micro-Wins - Maybe it’s sending one email you’ve been putting off, or choosing compassion over criticism in a tough moment. These tiny harvests matter.

• Speak to Your Future Self- Write a short note to the “you” who will eventually look back on this waiting season. What do you want her to remember about how strong, patient, or creative you were becoming here?

• Anchor in Community- Waiting is easier when you don’t do it alone. Share your “seed work” with a trusted friend, support group, or therapist who can remind you of the growth you can’t see yet.

As you wait for your harvest, remember that the waiting is not wasted time. Growth is happening. In the soil, in the seed, and in you.

Every step of the process, from planting to tending to gathering, holds its own kind of wisdom. Trust that when the season is right, the harvest will come, and when it does, you’ll carry not just the fruit, but also the strength, patience, and lessons that grew alongside it.

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About the Author:

Elizabeth Rago is a storyteller, strategist, and community builder who’s equally at home writing compelling content or navigating teenage chaos with tea in hand.

A seasoned writer with 20+ years of experience across industries—from mental health and design to insurance and advocacy—she’s also the founder of MDW (The Modern Domestic Woman), a no-fluff resource hub for women in transition.

Whether she’s ghostwriting for execs or spotlighting small-town gems, Elizabeth brings heart, humor, and a fierce belief in the power of connection. Learn more at MDWcares.com or find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.