Don't wait to be invited.

The take home lessons from being brave plus flower growing jobs for the week.

Usually I am in a delightful echo chamber. With flower fans joining me in online, on the plots or in the studio, maintaining an illusion that the world is as understanding, loving and connected as these spaces are for me.

Upon opening up any social media or newspaper, my make believe world becomes much smaller.

I can feel utterly overwhelmed by the news.

Without actionable opportunity, the newsfeeds can feel designed to leave one disempowered. I’ll look for someone or something to blame. Whilst reading about the latest climate report, I truly felt paralysed and hopeless.

This last fortnight I have taken risks to leave these safe spaces, to travel across the UK for different events, meetings, consultations and workshops. Out of my protected bubble, I braced myself for the worst.

And what I found was a great deal of optimism and much to be hopeful for.