Sticks and Stones.

Are you familiar with the old adage,”Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me”? It’s a phrase that we’ve all heard before, but have you ever stopped to think about what it really means?

When someone insults us, our loved ones, or our beliefs, our first instinct is often to get defensive. We feel hurt and attacked, and our emotions can quickly spiral out of control. Emotions are highly charged and the first instinct is to lash out, either with harsh words or resort to violence.

But why is that? What is it about negative words that provoke us to retaliate? Is it our ego, our pride, or our sense of self-worth? And when we find ourselves feeling belittled or angry, what good does it do us to lose control and lash out? One can only foresee the destruction this could cause to both parties.

The truth is reacting to hurtful words with anger and aggression rarely leads to a positive outcome. Instead, it often escalates the situation and can even lead to physical violence. That is why many religions teach their followers to practice patience and tolerance, even in the face of insults and negativity.

Honestly, how many of us can truly restrain ourselves and refrain from reacting or retorting in defense?

There’s a famous story about the Buddha that illustrates this point perfectly. One day, the Buddha was sitting in meditation under a tree. A man approached him and decided to test the Holy One. He began hurling insults and accusations in the revered sages direction. There was no response or reaction from the Monk. Finally, when the Buddha opened his eyes, the man asked him,’How is it you did not get angry when I hurled unkind words at you?’, to which the Buddha replied,’When you spewed all kinds of nasty words at me, I chose not to accept any of your hurtful words. He recognized that the power to hurt or offend only exists if we allow it to, and provokes us to retaliate in an equally harsh manner.

Even though it might be easy to dismiss the barbed words of another, when someone we care about says something hurtful, it can be incredibly difficult to not take it personally. Harsh words coming from a loved one or close friend, can and will hurt deeply because our feelings, reactions, and responses are based on the relationship we have with them. To maintain the sanctity of that relationship, we must practice restraint and avoid reacting in a manner that could cause lasting damage.

So the next time someone throws hurtful words your way, remember: sticks and stones may break your bones, but only you have the power to decide whether or not words will hurt you.

Reflections

Who is this who gives you life, yet lets you suffer?

Life throws a stick, and tells you,’ Go fetch’.

You either find the stick, return with it, and wait for it to be thrown again.

Or you cannot find the stick, and waste your whole life looking for it.

Or you find the stick but don’t know what to do with it.

Or you find the stick, take it, walk away with it, and never come back. 

Either way, you lose. 

Just saying.  

Leave the world behind

By chance, I came across a movie with the above title on Netflix, produced by the great or rather infamous Obamas ! Of course, that stirred my curiosity a little more, so I decided to delve into it.

It was rather slow in the beginning, I must admit, but it held my attention long enough for me to see it through to the end. And yes, contrary to all other reviews, I rather liked it ! Why? Because it stirred something inside of me. I could relate to it with what was happening in our real world.

It got me thinking about my own life, and how the world and my life have transitioned so seamlessly. So many changes have been made by governments, authoritative organizations etc., to whom we are mere pawns on the chessboard of life. They throw the dice, they make the move and we move along simply because we have no choice.

We have been unknowingly coerced into thinking and eventually believing that what has been ordained for us by the higher bodies is good for us in the long run. Why? Because that’s exactly what it looks like!

You begin to feel a sense of freedom and liberation. Money comes easy to you. The government puts money into our Ewallet, Grab offers advance cash bonuses, Atome allows you to split your payment into 3 and you get to own that product with your first payment-seamless, cashless!

This is a whole new experience for me, and I’m sure for so many like me out there! When I went to the pharmacy to purchase a few items, I was super excited to spend money that was technically not mine, and how easy it was to scan and own stuff!

I thought to myself, boy! how times have changed! From barter, to cash, to cashless to a digital footprint! In my seventy years of life on this planet, we have moved from pillar to post like one would run in a marathon, with the finish line as the goal!

As much as it is exhilarating, it also sends some shivers up my spine. Where is all this going to lead to? Are we moving too fast, or are we moving too fast but we fail to see it ? The changes are as subtle as they are sudden. One has no choice but to accept and embrace,otherwise it becomes an impediment to your progress in life.

The noose is around your neck. You can either fight it and retreat and have yourself choked or you can comply and move forward, not knowing exactly where all this will lead to. The burners are on, you can’t look to your left nor to your right, but straight ahead.

You realize that you are not the one moving forward. You are actually forced to move because you still have the noose around your neck. It’s hard to say if all this is for our good or for the greater good, but as of now choices are not on the table.

As much as I like the flexibility and the freedom of modern thinking, I know I still have a choice to be old school. But what happens when we transition into a cashless society? My cash will be of no use! I have to join the bandwagon!

A whole plethora of thoughts and clashing emotions is having a wild party inside of my head! Then I console myself that all this and more will not happen in my lifetime. Yet I can’t be so sure ! It could happen in 5, 10 or 15 years!

Coming back to the movie, it got me thinking. Almost everything that was portrayed was actually happening or about to happen imminently ! We all know that there is a dark side to everything. The existence of the Cabal or Deep state has been established . The Dark Web exists. Lyrics to songs have become so stark in their explicit expressiveness. Gone are the days when songs like Endless Love by Lionel Richie , A Man without Love by Englebert Humperdinck, The Power of Love by Celine Dion, etc rocked the world.

The songs I hear on the radio these days shock me- Starships by Nicki Minaj, WAP by Cardi B have ripped the joy and purity out and thrown them in the garbage bin. What is more shocking is that these songs are given a platform to be aired! Why are they being approved? Our children and future generations will be listening to such filth! I shudder to think of what else is out there that will encroach into the sanctity of our homes and our heads via visual and audio media vomit!

Movies, let alone songs, have run short of decent dialogue. Every second word is a cuss word. Vocabulary has been reduced to a handful of derogatory words that fill in for decent dialogue.

The world as we know it is in self-destruct mode. Humans versus humans. One set of humans decides they want to control the world. They decide when to release a deadly virus because they believe depopulation is the answer to many a problem, then they decide to introduce a cashless society to have control over us by inserting a chip (it is already being spoken of), GMO crops which can be detrimental to health, and many such devious tactics all for the greater good, they say.

Our worst enemies are not poverty, sickness, unemployment, etc. Our worst enemy is another human! Sad but true! The manipulators work very well in turning one human against another. There are no best friends anymore, it’s survival of the fittest even if it means eliminating your best friend! This is what I got from watching the movie.

You know what my take is from this? You have to be prepared to protect and safeguard yourself and your family. How do we do it? If you are financially strong, build yourself an underground bunker and equip it with all the amenities you will need to survive for a year. That’s probably how long the world might take to recover and get back to its feet after a nuclear war. Water, canned food (non-perishables), batteries, gen sets, medicines, the works……

Then again, simple folks, like you and me, what can we do? We continue to live, go about our daily routine, be the nice and kind people we were raised to be, and maintain a happy and healthy outlook on life.

The last thing that this planet needs is a nuclear war, and world governments must exercise everything in their power to prevent a war of such a magnitude.. The day every single human values and respects life and all living species, only then will the sacred Feminine, the ruling energy force holding this entire universe together in her loving and caring arms, rise in all her glory to sustain, provide for, and protect us.

Amen to that!

Boundaries..a hypothetical anecdote.

Is it normal or am I imagining this? It’s about people, sometimes the ones closest to you,who take advantage of your ‘niceness’, thinking that it’s ok to step over the boundary that is already there,though invisible , because it’s meant to be understood.

If you have a problem, why make it mine? I didn’t ask for this! Yet you deem it’s acceptable for you to expect me to agree to whatever it is you want, and when I so much as show a trace of disapproval, you cease to be the nice person you are, because you didn’t get your way.

Why don’t you deal with your personal issues on your territory instead of encroaching on mine? It’s a perfect example of manipulation, when you blame me for my reaction to your toxic behaviour, but never discuss your disrespect that triggered me in the first place.

First, you make your move in rather a nice way, very sweet and polite, followed by some emotional tears. I genuinely want to help, of course I do, but I made a big mistake. I responded rather quickly. I should have thought it over. I shouldn’t have given in so easily. At that moment, yes, I wanted to help, based on the reasons you gave. You said you would stay within the boundaries and would not give me cause for concern.

It came as no surprise when you did cross the line. You are such, that you would break all barriers because you saw something that no one else could see, and in your mind’s eye of reasoning it was the right step to take. I do not condemn you for who you are, or what you did because that’s what it is. You are who you are as created. And it’s not a bad thing.

It only gets bad when you do what you deem fit by going against my better judgment. And it’s not the first time. By and by you will understand and accept me, and even if you don’t, it’s ok. We are all wired differently, and that’s what makes each one of us so unique.

I may have come across as harsh, even cruel, but that’s the way it is and will be. I am not about to give up my peace of mind, which I have arrived at after so many years, to allow it to be disturbed by all and sundry. It’s too late for that. I have evolved. My mental state needs to be in a meditative mode. Peace is something so hard to find, and when I found it, I held onto it.

With age comes wisdom, they say, but I say age emboldens one. You are vocal about stuff that once you hesitated to talk about . You stand your ground when once before you gave in, you defend your own species because you felt so wronged in so many ways, your core values are strengthened and you fight for what’s just. You never know how strong you are, until you are challenged, until you are faced with situations ,until being strong is the only choice you have.

Life is beautiful, and even more beautiful when we live and let live. The cardinal rule is to learn to live side by side without treading on each other’s toes, respecting one another’s sacred space. Mutual respect without forcing the other to change or accept something you think is right, paves the path for trust and love. You don’t have to fight for a place in somebody’s life. If someone values you, they will keep a place for you in their heart.

Easily said than done, right? In actuality, it is not easy, but not impossible either!

Hermit the Frog

I’m positive most garden owners will agree with me, that with a garden comes a whole army of inhabitants, the ones that fly, leap, slither, slide, sting, bite, hop, buzz, hiss, sing, croak …….

I am privy to all of the above, and yes, you might ask me if I am ever afraid of any one of them? Heck, yes! Not all of them, just a few. We have had monitor lizards, snakes, frogs, millipedes, centipedes, bees, butterflies, birds, grasshoppers, caterpillars, wasps, mosquitoes, and ants, to name a few.

Aside from the larger creepy crawlers, there is one that I am particularly wary of, and that, my friends, is the leaping frog. He hides beautifully camouflaged between the leaves, under the petals, behind a picture frame, on the grill, and on the sliding glass door. The only reason I prefer to avoid this bad guy is, that he has a habit of leaping right at me. I know he doesn’t mean to scare me, but that’s exactly what I feel-sheer fear! Probably it could be because he catches me off guard, he is slimy, clingy, and ……..I have to stop here because I am feeling sick already!

During the monsoon season, these guys are prevalent in all the cool places. I have to be super careful not to disturb or startle them. Some of them congregate and hide in crevices in the pond and make their presence heard especially at night, when they decide to go vocal and break the sound barrier! Either they are trying to compete with one another, or it’s the males trying their best to woo the females, resulting in a cacophony of chaotic vocals in a concert!

Now let me introduce this guy to you. He made his presence felt a few months ago, when I happened to see him jump from one plant to another. He was whitish and had really long hind legs which propelled him to take really long leaps.

Of course, I was afraid he might land on me, so I would carefully water the plants without disturbing him. This went on for a while, and then one day I saw him perched behind a porcelain wall ornament, peeping through his big, googly eyes at the outside world. Sometimes he looked like he was asleep. I decided to call him Hermit,because that was who he is, all by himself, a loner.

My first instinct was to shoo him away by directing the hose pipe on him, but I squashed the idea, knowing full well that, when in panic mode, he might just leap straight at me! So I decided to do the humane thing, the choice of “live and let live”.

I looked at him and said,”I’m not going to hurt you. You leave me alone, and I will leave you alone. You can stay where you are. I will not disturb you”.

From hence worth began a daily conversation with my frog prince! I would step out onto the patio, and look at him, (I can just about see his bulging eyeballs over the framework, which would either be closed in slumber or wide open in alert mode). I would say,”I’m not going to hurt you. I will just go about watering the plants, and I will be out of your way.”

This one-sided conversation went on for some weeks, and I began to feel less afraid. He would simply watch me while I watered the plants, and I made sure I didn’t wet him with the hose.

One morning, I was surprised to see him missing from his usual perch. Dismissing it, thinking he had gone hunting for food, I went about my gardening. The next day, the same thing-he was missing! On the third day, I started to feel a little worried. At first it was with a tad scary feeling, imagining he might be hiding behind the leaves, or cleverly camouflaged somewhere, but no, he was not to be seen anywhere!

Surprisingly, I found myself worrying about him! Where could he be, is he hurt, has he been attacked, is he alive? I couldn’t believe I was actually asking these questions, that I was missing him!! And yes, you guessed it, I am missing this fella!

It is day 7, and he is still not back! Where can he be? Is he safe somewhere, or has he fallen prey to a predator? I wished him well in silence. He had every right to be in my garden like any other. It is his natural habitat and I should learn to accept this and go about my work respecting his presence.

The truth remains that every morning it has become a habit to first look for him and then go about my work. I am beginning to miss him in a rather strange way! Who knows, maybe one day he might just pop in to make an appearance, and I would look at him and say,”Welcome back, Hermit, where have you been all these days?”

‘Stay safe, Hermit’, – and life goes on, the way it was always meant to be. Peace and out.

Age Appropriate-The 70’s

Hey there! Let’s chat about something that’s been on my mind lately-‘aging’. It’s funny how time goes by so quickly. I’ve noticed some changes in myself and my spouse as we’ve gotten older, and what used to be a vase of flowers on the dining table, now has beside it, a rainbow-colored pill organizer, which appears to have taken permanent residence there!

I can’t help but smile as I walk by, reflecting on the journey we have taken together, the battles we have fought and won or are in the process of facing and winning, and the scars and war medals we have earned as a result of our bravery in battling various illnesses and dis-eases! It’s amazing to see how we have evolved over time and overcome so many challenges, and I’m proud of the resilience we have shown.

I am on the threshold of having left my sweet sixties behind, and stepping into the smouldering seventies! What! Wait a minute! Seriously! I find it hard to believe ! It seems so unreal that time has passed by so fast! I could transport myself to the 60’s in an instant and see myself in kindergarten. I can remember my earliest primary school days like they were just yesterday! Those are my ‘youngest’ memories!

This is so amazing, that I can relive my past so clearly. As I approach my 70s, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement! I mean, who knows what amazing adventures and experiences are waiting for me in this new decade of my life? Sure, my body may not be as firm as it once was, my skin not as taut as before, wrinkles around my eyes, flab flaps here and there, ‘silvering’ hair which I still color because I’m not ready to turn full-on , a few aches and pains here and there, lumps and bumps where they shouldn’t be, but, despite all that, I still feel young at heart, no less vibrant, no less in love with life.

Undergarments have taken a raincheck, an expression of freedom, a new relaxed vibe that I enjoy only within the confines of my home, comfort has replaced style which has reduced my ailing wardrobe to a Netflix limited series, and don’t even talk about my footwear! My beautiful heels have shed their outer layers like a reptilian, having been confined within the walls of my wardrobe as if they were protesting from inactivity, disuse, and dormancy, and the less said about my costume jewelry and sarees, the better.A new sense of liberation!

Returning to the main topic of age, and in this case, of me turning into a debutante of the 70s, it feels good! As I enter the ‘twilight years’ of my life, I see it as an opportunity to discover a new me. It’s a chance to pursue all the passions and dreams that I’ve put on hold for so long, a last chance to attempt something I never dared to do, or a specific time to fix broken dreams and splattered relationships, or breathe,and take in the fresh air. In fact, I feel more alive than ever before! I’m shedding my inhibitions and embracing all the joys that come with age!

I think it’s a reality check vacancy- to discover a new you, live out your closeted ambitions, finish what you didn’t have time to do, embark on something you shelved for years, discover a new passion, visit someone who popped into your mind’s eye, reach out for the phone to talk to someone whose face showed up on your visual screen, to inspire a sad soul, lend a listening ear to a grieving someone…

I want to create memories that will last a lifetime, to give my life that purpose towards a life well spent. Our latter years present the best opportunity to leave our mark in this world. You are that somebody that someone, someday will talk about with a soft expression and a tender voice. It’s the perfect time to leave your indelible mark on the life of a human or humans, to be fondly remembered and talked about for generations perhaps.

Most importantly, I want to leave a legacy. I want to touch people’s lives in a meaningful way, to be remembered for the kindness and love I have shared with them, and with me. I want to leave behind a trail, a treasury of magical whispers that helped transform others’ lives and mine, graceful gestures that spoke to a broken heart and helped bandaid it beautifully, warm hugs that restored confidence in a crumbling persona and helped blossom the inner aura of a battered soul.

So, bring on the seventies! I’m ready for whatever this new decade has in store for me. It’s going to be one, wild, exciting adventure, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!

Carmello-my hero .

It all seemed like a nightmare. Seeing my senior pooch, Carmello, indicate that he is approaching his twilight days, set my heart racing. Uncertainty, fear, trepidation- these emotions surged through my gut, and I told myself I could not go through this again. Painful memories of my earlier pets flashed before my eyes. I had just lost my beloved Sophie two years ago, the memories still as fresh as driven snow in my mind.

Carmello’s gait was sluggish, and he stood in the same spot for long periods, staring blankly into space. Just incase you didn’t know, Carmello is blind. He is a ripe old 19 years of age, which makes him 133 human years! He has blessed me with the best of his years.

After 3 days of going without food, because he had lost his appetite, and drinking copious amounts of water, I knew he was going downhill. He had no control over his bladder, so I resorted to using pampers. He slept most of the time and he knew something was wrong with his body.

I kept him close to me and talked to him continuously. On the fourth day, his legs buckled under him. My heart sank. For fear of him bumping into hard places,I placed him in a large cardboard box. He started yelping and I knew then it was not because he wanted to get out, but that he was in pain.

On the 25th of February, I kept him beside me on my bed, so he could feel my presence close to him. The sweet fella kept yelping at intervals. Perhaps he knew! I was blinded by my tears. I couldn’t stop. It hurt like crazy! Why, why, I asked God, did animals have to suffer, to gasp for breath before they died? Couldn’t they just close their eyes and drift away painlessly? Question after question poured out from my heart. There were no answers.

Carmello looked like he was staring right into my eyes as he listened to my voice. I whispered to him a million times how much I loved him, how everyone who came by fell in love with him instantly and wanted to be photographed with him. Carmello was the celebrity that even Airbnb took note of, and sent him stuffed toys!

The hours trickled by and I continued whispering in soft tones, running my fingers gently along his back. I syringed water into his mouth at intervals for fear of his throat turning dry. I must have dozed off at about 5.30am, with my arms around his pillow cushion.

I remember waking up at 6.45am. I instinctively touched his body and felt it a little stiff, although it was still warm. I took a closer look and saw his breathing had stopped! My heart exploded into spasms of wrenching pain. I was surprised that I couldn’t cry anymore! I was all cried out! It struck me that Carmello must have waited for me to fall asleep before he slipped into nothingness! He probably didn’t want me to see him go and tried to hang in there till I nodded off!

“I love you so much, Carmi,” I whispered, and felt my chest tighten like it was going to blow up into shreds! I ran out of my room to tell my husband and daughter that Carmello had departed. No tears, no talk, just dazed, muddled and bewildered. A beautiful soul has begun his journey to his Creator.

We buried him in our garden next to my Sophie. I talk to them every day, thanking them for a lifetime of love that they had gifted me with. My life goes through a battering every time a pet passes on. My heart is studded with scars, blotches, and blemishes left by the departure of every pet of mine. Yet I wear them proudly and treasure them like diamonds encrusted on a crown! All they gave me was bountiful love.

Every one of my pet dogs taught me some of life’s key lessons. Loyalty, Faithfulness, Unconditional and Unwavering Love, Patience, and Joy to name a few. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t feel their absence. They were like family, except that they spoke with their eyes! Always the first to greet me exuberantly and the last to cuddle up with me in bed. They have left indelible pawprints on my heart walls. I doubt I could get this from a human every single day !

I still have my cutie pie, Minnie Girl. She was also affected by Carmello’s absence.For a few days she wandered aimlessly around the house, but she was back to her cheerful self once again.

My darling Carmi, be happy wherever you are, frolicking around in lush meadows studded with millions of flowers as far as the eye can see, perhaps playing in the company of Sophie, Chelsea, and the rest. You are free from pain, sickness, hunger and thirst.

You are just that – FREE !!!

Turned Tables

We were all seated at our dining table- husband, third daughter, fourth daughter, and me. The appearance of our two youngest daughters sprung from an urgency to see and spend time with their father. A year of hospital visits and doctors, procedures, prescriptions, and medication ignited the above urgency.

We had somehow realized that the family had become overly concerned about our well-being. They had conferenced together to discuss our future! This materialized from the doctor’s orders to my husband that for the next two weeks, he was not to drive or step out for his usual marketing spree.

At the same time, he had to adhere to a custom-made menu made up of nutritious and healthy food choices. My third daughter is a Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Coach. So, yes, you guessed it, she took charge of this aspect and had long, in-depth chats with her father on the importance of carefully prepared meals, both nutritious and with healing properties. She has the perfect student in my husband, who would listen intently to every word she said. She even plated a sample serving so he could get an idea of the approximate amount of food he was supposed to consume.

Supplements were scrutinized, generic ones were discarded , and only the ones that indicated the precise contents were included. Changes were made in the kind of coffee he was to drink, sugarless and decaffeinated. Daily blood pressure and sugar readings were recorded and a simple exercise regime was implemented.

As parents, we were initially amused by this reversal of roles. We laughed about it in the beginning, but the shooting stares from our daughter silenced un to incoherent giggles! This is serious business, she hollered! We quickly suppressed our laughter and posed all ears to what she had to further say.

Daughter number 4 churned out some amazingly delicious smoothies which were healthy and so good to the palette! I was bowled over, never having been a fan of smoothies in the past. She uses avocado generously in her smoothies, which are healthy and so good on the palette! I was bowled over, never having been a fan of smoothies, something I wouldn’t be able to afford, I told her. She says that’s all taken care of. I said, huh, what do you mean? She says ‘I have made arrangements for fruits and food items to be brought to our home regularly ! I said, what! I couldn’t help feeling a cloak of gratitude at all this attention, and yet at the same time lapping it up!

I have to admit it’s refreshing to be on the other side of the table, on the receiving end! I guess this is what life and family is all about, to care and to be cared for. I’m kind of enjoying it, and at times feel spoilt by so much attention. Never question a good thing, is one of my favorite mantras, and this attention and outpouring of love needs getting used to.

My friends ask me, ” Don’t you feel old with all this fussing about?”, and I say,”No!”, quite vehemently! Instead, we feel extremely privileged! To top it all, my children have taught me the usage and convenience of modern technology . I now know how to pay my bills online, how to transfer funds, how to book a GrabCar, how to order food, groceries, and anything else, you name it! There is still a whole lot more I could learn, and I’m enjoying the journey!

So here’s to ‘growing up’ and ‘tables turned’ !

Front Office Etiquette.

Picture this – you’re at a medical clinic for an appointment with a reputed doctor. The first time you visited, the clinical staff was friendly, warm, and caring. You were impressed with the initial welcoming encounter. But, when you returned for your follow-up appointment, you saw a different side to the same cheerful staff. One of them wore a sour and grumpy expression, didn’t even lift her head to look at you in the face, and answered your queries nonchalantly. Would you be shocked and disappointed? 

I bet you would be, just like my friend who experienced this firsthand. She tried asking the receptionist if she was alright, but the response was a silent nod. It’s not just about one bad experience, but also about the fact that such unpleasant behavior can drive patients away from the clinic. 

This begs the question – should grumpy, sulky, and disgruntled people be front desk personnel? A good front desk receptionist is energetic, friendly, and provides excellent customer service, and builds relationships. She assists walk-in clients, schedules client appointments, answers phone lines, and helps clients with their questions and issues. 

It’s not just about being polite and courteous, but also about providing a sense of comfort and reassurance to patients already dealing with health issues. A smiling and friendly reception is probably the first medicine administered to the patient. Instead, imagine being given a dose of quinine when you don’t need or deserve it! 

So, what do we do when faced with such unpleasantness? Do we report it to the doctor or just let it slide? The decision is up to us, as patients, but we should not have to put up with unprofessional behavior, especially when we are paying for the service. 

Let’s pull up our socks and bring this matter to light. By reporting such chilly and inhospitable conduct, we can help clinics improve their services and build lasting relationships with their patients. After all, a good front desk receptionist is the first step towards a positive and successful treatment.

Timeless purple perfection

This morning, while I was gardening, a beautiful purple hue caught my attention from the corner of my eye. I turned to see a bunch of gorgeous purple blossoms, delicately balanced on its mother plant, happy to be secluded in an insignificant part of the drain way back at the rear side of our house.

I smiled. I marveled at what this plant was teaching me. The lesson I learned from this was no matter how insignificant a place the plant had seeded and grown, it continued to shine, to do its best, to pursue what it was created to do uninterrupted, and that is to gift the unseeing world with a bunch of beautiful purple blossoms, either to be enjoyed by the onlooker or to fade and die, unseen and unadmired.

The point is the plant does not care who sees, who doesn’t, who admires, draws joy from it, walks past it unnoticed, who does. All it is concerned with is to grow and bloom, grow and bloom, until one day when it has completely exhausted its life span, will slowly wither and die. It did not matter where it had taken root, it only focused on doing what it was created to do. But before succumbing to the throes of death, it would make sure its seeds get scattered far and wide, hoping that these seeds will eventually find a home to take root wherever the wind would eventually transport them.

This will be the beginning of the neverending journey of a humble plant, and its effort to spread beauty to those blessed enough to notice and draw joy from its lovely flowers.

Doesn’t this make you see in your mind’s eye that this could very well be a message for us? Wherever you are, whatever you do, you should do it to the best of your ability, so not only will you be content that you did your best, but that you brought joy to another. The conditions may not be adequate, suitable, or comfortable, yet armed with a determination to do your best, you will soldier on to produce great results.

It has been said that doing your best ,especially when no one is watching brings the greatest satisfaction, and portrays your true self. Most times we seek approval from our parents, teachers, friends, colleagues, and bosses, which in itself is not a bad deal, because this is also an important part of molding one’s character and proficiency. It is when you continue to blossom in what you do and how you do it irrespective of who’s watching or who’s not, that speaks volumes of your integrity and character.

No matter what the circumstances,do your best. When your heart is in the right place, things will fall into place. The nuts and bolts of the wheel of life will steer you in the right direction.

What is most important is that one Person who is constantly watching over us, our Creator, and whose approval is what we must truly seek, not humans but the Divine.

You know what’s the sad part -it’s knowing that this attractive flowers life span lasts for merely one day. Just ONE day! All that effort for the plant to create those soft, tender petals, the stamens, etc- all this for just one day? Yet, it never gives up and continues to produce bloom after bloom. The same effort, the same result, every single time. Perfection! To be seen is not the criteria, to be applauded is not the aim. It only aspires to follow God’s perfect plan.