Finally, to translate the aphorism into practice, choose one modest, verifiable truth and embed it in routine. A manager might start every meeting with a check-in that honors listening; a student might verify one source beyond headlines; a neighbor might plant literal trees on heat-prone blocks. Document, share, and invite adaptation—open-source the watering, as it were. Over months, such habits scaffold cultures. And when the canopy thickens, remember pruning: periodic reflection, transparent corrections, and space for sunlight. In this way, the small truth you tend becomes durable shade on many people’s way. [...]
