One of my patients recently shared with me the joy she and her husband find in planting fruit trees in their backyard. Her enthusiasm struck a chord in me—reminding me of something I’ve been meaning to do, but let slip in the busyness of life.

When we first moved into our home in California, one of the first things we did was plant a bunch of fruit trees. They started as small, scrawny saplings—without a stitch of fruit in sight—but by the time we moved 18 years later, they had matured into beautiful, fruit-bearing giants. They brought beauty, nourishment, and memories we’ll never forget.

Since moving to Florida four years ago, we’ve planted a few trees here and there, but not with the same intentionality. Life has a way of getting full. But after that conversation with my patient, something shifted. I decided it was time to start planting again.

In just the past two weeks, the kids and I added six new trees to our backyard—avocado (pictured above), star apple, kumquat, guava, and my personal favorite: lychee.

I grew up eating lychee at all our family gatherings. My mom and aunts always added it to the fruit salads. My mom was raised in Wahiawa, Hawaii, where lychee trees grew wild along country roads, heavy with fruit. It was a part of her childhood—and mine too, in its own way.

Now, living in Florida, the climate is finally right to grow them myself. I can’t believe I now have two different lychee varieties in the backyard, which means cross-pollination—and a more abundant harvest in the years to come.

Planting a tree is an act of hope. You dig, water, and wait—knowing the fruit won’t come tomorrow, but trusting that one day, it will.

Health works the same way.

You may not see results immediately, but with time, consistency, and care… transformation happens.
Strength builds. Energy returns. Your body begins to perform better.

As we planted those trees, I watched my kids working beside me—laughing, learning, helping. And it struck me: just like those trees, they’re growing fast. One day, I’ll look out at a full orchard, and those small hands that helped plant it will be grown—married, raising their own families, maybe even planting fruit trees in their own backyards.

Part of me wishes I had planted those trees the day we moved in. But I can’t turn back time. What I can do—and what we all can do—is start today.

Because time waits for no one. The best moment to care for your health, to build your future, to grow something lasting—is now.

So whether it’s planting trees or prioritizing your well-being, don’t wait for the perfect time. Start small if you need to—but start.

Tend to your health like a tree: with patience, with purpose, and with the hopeful expectation of a harvest.

Your future self—and the people you love—will thank you.

Remember, your health affects everything you do and everyone you know.

Have a Thriving Tuesday,

Dr. Derek “Tending the Future” Taylor