When Ganjana was a young teenager, she immigrated to the US from Thailand with her twin sister so they could be near their mother who had to relocate to receive treatment for cancer. When their mother suddenly passed away, Ganjana and her sister were essentially on their own to care for each other as orphans and immigrants. After a childhood of trauma and the loss of her mother, then suddenly being catapulted into adulthood in a foreign country, Ganjana began struggling with what would later become debilitating anxiety.
Years and years later, Ganjana was volunteering at her local food bank where she was also a client. It was the Holiday distribution when, along with the standard weekly provisions, recipients are also given all the trimmings for a holiday meal. When she finished her volunteer shift helping to stock shelves and took her turn to collect her own groceries, she was handed a floral holiday centerpiece. It moved her to tears. She later shared that she stood in disbelief and asked herself, “Who does this? Who gives flowers like this? I have to meet this person. I have to be involved with this.”
Because the centerpieces included the Growing Kindness bouquet tag, she was able to look up the project and signed up to be a member right away. Ganjana planted her first flower garden that spring. The GK project was beside her, step by step, to help her learn to grow, harvest and design flowers. With flowers in hand, Ganjana began slowly, bravely reaching out in her community. Stem by stem, growing and giving flowers brought healing and gave her a tool and mission that helped her not only connect in her community but is helping her overcome anxiety.
Ganjana, planting her first Growing Kindness garden.
The next year, Ganjana later applied and was accepted as a 2021 Ambassador. Being a part of the team brought her into even more community, connection and support. Ganjana made friends with members across the world including Sally, from England, who is now her best friend.
Ganjana is currently an Ambassador Alumni and continues to grow and share flowers in her community and build connections and friendships through the GK team.
In addition to gifting flowers with neighbors and community members who are going through difficult times, Ganjana also now donates flowers to the Stanwood Camano Food bank where she first received flowers in kindness.
Ganjana’s example and story beautifully illustrates that we truly have no idea how a single act of kindness can change a life. Likewise, we can never underestimate the power of having a purpose and a sense of belonging.
Our mission, as an organization, is to bring this same kindness, hope, and belonging to all of our team members as we empower them to grow and give flowers in their neighborhoods and communities all across the world.
““Because of the Growing Kindness Project, I’m not just surviving-
I’m thriving.
It’s healing my heart.””
