Finding Your Soil

Hello friends!

This week, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of home. Not just the physical structure we live in, but the deeper meaning of where we truly feel we belong. To me, home is less about a place and more about the people and the connections that nourish us—our soil.

This idea of "finding your soil" is one I’ve shared with my grandchildren often, and we’ve explored it together through a beautiful book we love to read, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to pick it up. It’s a treasure trove of wisdom wrapped in the simplest, yet most profound, words.

One of my favorite moments from the book is when the mole asks the boy, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” The answer is simply, “Kind.” It’s such a gentle but powerful reminder that our actions and who we choose to be far outweigh the things we accomplish or the titles we hold.

In my own life, I’ve learned that finding my soil, finding my people, has been key to my growth and healing. After experiencing struggles with abandonment and neglect as a child, I grew up believing that home was something fragile, something that could be taken away. But over time, I’ve come to understand that home isn’t just where we live; it’s where we feel safe to be ourselves. It’s the relationships that sustain us, the love we give and receive, and the places where kindness takes root and blooms.

What Does Finding Your Soil Look Like?

• It’s about surrounding yourself with people who nourish your soul, who see you for who you are, and who help you grow.

• It’s about being intentional in creating connections rooted in kindness, trust, and understanding.

• And sometimes, it’s about cultivating that soil within yourself, being the foundation that others can rely on and grow alongside.

This week, I encourage you to reflect on your own soil. Who or what are the constants in your life that make you feel grounded, supported, and loved? How can you be “good soil” for someone else, a friend, a family member, a colleague, or even a stranger?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you read The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse? What’s your favorite message from it, or how do you define home in your life?

Let’s stay connected on this journey. I’m so grateful for each of you who are part of my soil, and I hope I can be part of yours.

Warmly,
PJ Hamilton
Author of From the Piney Woods
“Your past does not define you; it prepares you.”

P.S. If you’d like to hear more about the messages in my writing, join me on this journey by subscribing to my newsletter or preordering a signed copy of my book! Let’s grow together. 🌱