The Flower

One hot summer day, I found a small white flower. Its quaintness appealed to me, so I plucked it from the ground and placed it on my dashboard where I could easily see it. My intention was to transfer it to a vial of water when I got home. But by the time I arrived home 10 minutes later, the flower was completely wilted.

To say the change in scenery was too much for the little flower is an understatement. It was hard enough for the flower to survive without its roots, having been plucked from its grassy home and placed on a hot and hard surface. But taking away hydration left nothing for the flower in terms of nourishment. 

As I studied the now-wilted flower, I realized I could see myself in it. What was once open and beautiful had become closed and withdrawn. Many times in the past, I had gone through this very transition. I put myself in “hot situations.” I endured major life changes with little thought to my needs, to the nourishment I needed for my well-being. I pushed myself too hard, thinking I could “go a little while without.” And the result, every single time, was that I became closed off from my life force. I wilted. 

Eventually I learned that I needed to treat myself gently. I needed to keep my roots intact. I needed consistent nourishment. As a human, life can come with periods of great vulnerability. Keeping a root in the soil helps, and keeping some nourishment for the soul is vital. Today, I ask myself every day what I need. I think twice before putting myself in hot situations. If I find myself going through a major change, I take extra care to nourish myself. And the result? I find myself opening to life. Instead of wilting, I bloom.

- Kimberly Stowers