So, while taking time to stop and smell the flowers, I happened upon two separately but connected lessons. Don’t judge me, but I have come to enjoy having flowers in the kitchen. They do tend to brighten the room – and have the added benefit of covering up last night’s culinary attempt from an olfactory point of view. I have become particularly fond of these lilies. In addition, to a fault at times, I am also fond of analogies – metaphor, and to a lessor extent, simile, have been my go to tools for describing emotions, situations or just the ideas I have. These lilies have provided me another such opportunity to open the analogy tool box. When these lilies bloom, they have the most amazingly beautiful petals spreading out like welcoming arms – pulling you toward them with their allure and attractiveness. However, as is always the case, eventually, these beautiful petals age and fall away. It is not until then that you notice that there is a center still present and strong. Upon reflection, you realize that the center was always there from the beginning – patiently and unassumingly existing amongst all the beauty. The life lesson metaphor – keep yourself centered at all times, while age may strike blows against the appearance, a strong center can withstand the onslaught. The second lesson this little episode provided me was one of patience – waiting for nature to take its course to capture these two images without my intervention.
