26/01/2026
This morning my daughter was out early, watering the sunflowers she grew from seed. I sat nearby with a coffee when she asked whether there was any reason - beyond energy - that sunflowers always follow the sun.
I paused, rather than defaulting to the standard biological explanation. Given recent family conversations around negative thoughts and energy, another response felt more useful. I remembered a line by Helen Keller:
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.”
She took my philosophical use of nature-as-example in quietly, seemingly satisfied. I returned to my coffee, quietly amused, wondering whether that sudden burst of parenting insight had come from caffeine!
For those wondering, the science is elegantly simple. Young sunflowers show a behaviour known as heliotropism - sun-tracking. Guided by their circadian rhythm, they anticipate sunrise, turning east each morning, then slowly following the sun westward through the day. Uneven stem growth helps this movement, resetting overnight so they’re ready again for sunrise.
Once mature, sunflowers stop moving and remain facing east. It helps them warm earlier, release pollen more efficiently, and become, quite literally, more attractive to bees. 🐝 🌻
Light drives growth. Warmth invites life. Occasionally, science and metaphor line up perfectly. 👌
