I’m unsure when I acquired this adorable pea pod set, but I remember the feeling that filled me. I was smitten with this garden-related creative and practical piece. I’ve used it for several years to serve diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and sweet onion on Taco Night. Also, as a veggie platter filled with garden purple carrots, snap peas, yellow beans, and crisp pickles. Most often, though, it’s sat on a kitchen window sill as a perfect pea-green collection station for the odd loonie, elastic bands, inevitable kid’s Lego and a generous sprinkling of dust.

As I emptied it the other day, to wash the dust off, I thought it was time for the pea set to move on to a new home. Even though it was great for our condiments when we were a couple, now that I’m feeding six or more people daily, it doesn’t hold enough goodies. I wasn’t really using it; it was taking up space and, therefore, became clutter rather than participatory. It was time; I needed to let it go.

I decided to offer it for sale through Junco Studio’s vendor booth, but first, it would have to be tweaked into something, as reselling basic items at BC Farmers Markets is prohibited. Humm, what could I do with something already artsy and functional? While I let that question mull in my head, I focused on my seedlings, which were outside hardening off for a few hours.

The bell peppers were growing wonderfully. I would keep them indoors under lights for another six weeks until warmer weather. The sweet onions were almost large enough to put in the garden, and the peas were ready to go in.

I took a few moments out of my day to plant them. As I was popping them out of their pots, I noticed several pea plants had their tops pinched off and eaten. I love that our grandkids had learned to snack on pea leaves and curly-qs. The plants would be none the worse for the pruning, but just in case, I planted more pea seeds along with the seedlings.

And that’s when it struck me… I could plant some pea seeds in the pea pod set! I loved the idea. Seeing pea sprouts bursting from a pea pod dish would be adorable! Almost immediately, I struggled with hypothetical opinions people might blurt out on Market day: “Why would you plant peas in something that couldn’t sustain their growth?” and “Eww, there is dirt on the dish we are supposed to eat from.” Doubt tried to creep in and erase my fun, ha-pea idea, but I caught it.

I’ve been showing up for myself lately, trusting my instincts, following through with ideas, and not stopping short when nearing a goal. This fresh concept brings me an inner confidence that has more lasting, satisfying effects than the hamster-wheel external validation I usually seek. I went ahead and planted the pea seeds in the dish set, and within days, they sprouted.

Watching the peas grow over the next few days brought me great joy. I’m glad I acted on the idea instead of letting self-doubt squash it. Far too often, I have focused on the naysayers, suppressing my self-expression or spending my energy trying to convince them that creativity (mine in particular) is worthy of admiration. I’ve even caught myself dumbing down my efforts so others don’t feel daunted. I’m learning that that mindset is detrimental in more ways than one.

There will be people who are disinterested in this lively piece, or maybe there’ll be an off-comment about it at the Market. There will also be people who are smitten by my creative efforts. Neither carries more weight than the other, and all I hope is that someone loves it enough to take it home to enjoy.

I will continue to engage in my unique ideas and creative expressions and exuberantly do what I love to do. The more authentic I am along this journey, the more likely I’ll find vibrant, kindred peas who fill my pod.

• Pea S: A smitten person purchased the peas within minutes of Market opening on April 6 💖