Hidden Growth

We often admire the leaves at the top, but growth does not only happen where it is visible.

We often celebrate what is easy to see.

The achievements, the milestones, the moments that sit neatly at the top.

But this image reminded me of something quieter.

Scientifically, shoots like this grow from dormant buds beneath the bark.

When a tree experiences stress, damage, or increased light, these hidden buds can activate. Cracks in the bark do not stop growth. They often create the conditions for it.

While attention naturally goes to the magnificent leaves above, growth is still happening elsewhere.

In the trunk…In the cracks.

In places shaped by time, pressure, and weathering.

This small shoot did not grow where it would be noticed first.

It grew where it was needed.

Perhaps growth is not always about reaching higher.
Sometimes it is about continuing, even in the least expected places.