So what’s my question?
A flower doesn’t stop being beautiful just because somebody walks by without noticing it. The flower just continues to be its glorious self: elegant, graceful, and magnificent.
Mother Nature has provided us with these immeasurably valuable teachers that blossom despite their short lifespan, stars that continue to shine even if we fail to notice them, and trees that don’t take it personally if we never bow down in gratitude for the oxygen they provide.
We have an incredible and unlimited capacity to love, but the question is: Can we do it like a flower? Without needing to be admired, adored, or even noticed? Can we open our hearts completely to give, forgive, celebrate, and joyfully live our lives without hesitation or need for reciprocity?
Sometimes it seems like we even go beyond taking things personally and are noticeably deflated when unappreciated. Sometimes even devastated. We get hurt if a friend forgets our birthday, our boss fails to recognize the astonishing work we’ve done.
Can you imagine a flower copping an attitude for not being praised or the moon dimming its glow because we’re too self-absorbed to notice it more often?
Maybe we need a reminder to shine no matter what, to love unconditionally, to be a kind and thoughtful soul (even when nobody is watching).
P.S. And maybe, if we’re so inclined, we could go hug a tree and say, “Thank you!”