Flowers have a way of grounding me, no matter how life gets. Between raising my children, balancing work roles, important volunteer projects, doctoral school and getting in those date nights with my husband, days and time pass by quickly. But flowers, whether they are in a vase on the kitchen table or growing in a nearby garden, always bring me back to the present.
The other day, as daughter and I were walking, she noticed a patch of wildflowers blooming near the curb. “Look, Mommy! They’re so pretty!” she said, her voice filled with excitement. We stopped right there, crouched down, and just looked at them, really looked. I noticed the tiny details, the way the petals caught the sunlight, and suddenly I realized how long it had been since I had slowed down to notice the intricate beauty of a flower.
While I have always loved flowers, I try to keep fresh bouquet in the house, not just because they brighten a room but because they remind pause and breathe.
Every time I walk past flowers, they pull me out of my rushing thoughts. Flowers do not force themselves to bloom faster. They do not fight their imperfections. They simply exist, fully and beautifully, in the moment.
In some ways, they remind me of what I am trying to teach my children, how to notice life’s little wonders, how to find joy in the simple things. And, honestly, they remind me to practice what I preach.
It is easy to feel like I am failing when I cannot do it all “perfectly”, but flowers show me that growth is not about perfection. It is about showing up, being present, and allowing yourself to bloom in your own time.
Mindfully curated by Debra Gudema for Well&Co.
📸: juliaskonieczna