Blooms! Why do I love them so? I’ve been thinking of that quite a bit lately. I’ve been going on walks in the warm spring weather taking photos all along the way. Below I have included just a few pics from my walks.

I am moved by the beauty! I mean it has been winter for a while now. Do I just love to see the color? Maybe, but it feels like more. Blooms, blossoms or flowers represent hope as well as beauty to me. For a tree, bush or plant to reach the flowering stage, they must endure or go through many stages, some riskier than others. I think of all that occurs below the soil away from the naked eye and slowly. The bloom is there all along, but it takes a lot to be revealed and the conditions must be just right. It is the natural part of a plant’s blueprint.

After my surgery I felt different. Jack called me “2.0” which I have written about previously. I think something in my life had to be removed to reveal that 2.0 nature and of course there is the obvious that had to be removed to survive. Since then even more has been revealed. I lived a very long time trying to be someone else, someone tougher, louder, bolder, someone others might notice or approve of or even respect. However, that is not me. I’m quiet, thoughtful, gentle, slower than some, and introspective. My natural colors are not bright and bold and loud. My colors are muted and soft and that is o.k.. Some might say they are just right, even perfect, for me at least. (My art journey has followed the same path—bold abstracts to soft peaceful florals). I love comfort and quiet and peace and taking my time to get things done or to make decisions. It has taken me a long time to realize this or rather to be o.k. with it. I have tried to hide it most of my life. I was criticized and pushed to be different until I finally decided that in order to survive it would be best to just be me risking never being seen, respected or recognized—ever. What I have realized is that I would never receive any of those things not being myself. A plant doesn’t struggle to be itself. It rests in who it is. It is patient and trusting that it will bloom when it needs to or not if it isn’t time. And trusting it will be the color it needs to be and that it will attract what it needs to survive. And because of that we see all colors and shapes of blooms and flowers all throughout the year in every aspect of nature. That brings me comfort and joy and these days I live for that! Don’t compare yourself to those around you! That does no good. We are not meant to compare. The dogwood doesn’t compete with the redbud tree nor the daffodil with the tulip or the rose. You be you! I’ll be me! And we can love and support each other just the way we are!