It was a birthday celebration. After I blew out the candles and we savored the cake; someone expressed unexpected words. At first, surprised by who made the remark, later bewildered. But as I tuned in to the one who said what was said, I realized we were on two distinct paths, never seeing eye to eye. My outlook on life differs from theirs, so it was, and so it will be what it is… two souls not really sharing the same life experiences. Nostalgia invited me to reminisce about a simpler time when as children we didn’t judge or label people. We simply accepted everyone for who they were. Perhaps back then everyone was a flower child.
What is a flower child? I had to search for meaning because it was decades since I last heard this expression. A flower child is an idealist, an unconventional soul who promotes love, peace, and simplicity. Wow, like groovy… I get it. Initially, I misunderstood when I should have thanked this person for the compliment.
I am a flower child. A work in progress, albeit a tidy, neat package created by a loving God who views each one of us perfect. I can’t live any other way. I am who I am and they happen to be who they are, and that is the beauty of this life. We are who we choose to be.
LIVING IN PEACE WITH LESSONS LEARNED
I view the world in a different light. The cup I perceive is half full rather than half empty, even during challenges. No longer do I follow some crowd or conform to what others may preach and practice. I believe we create our lives along with the world we envision. Instead of asking why something happened, I refer to the lesson. What must I understand about this person, situation, or issue? When I’m challenged, I look at its message and choose how I react to these so-called tests in life. Bottom line, am I pleased with whom I’ve become? Am I happy with the choices I made, the beliefs I carry, and the values I hold? Or is a change required?
A few years back everything changed and in turn, the life I led changed. I view things from a different perspective. An inspired transformation captured my attention. I approach life gracefully with forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude. Deep down I know forgiveness equals freedom. And I also know compassion yields to better understanding of people and situations. Perhaps this really isn’t resembling a flower child per se, but akin to one, with its core traits.
A GIFTED MESSAGE
There was a gift embedded within those surprising words. A message that spoke to my heart, reminding me to take comfort in how far I traveled. In the past reliving lessons, now, lessons learned and wisdom attained. We continue to learn and grow from every experience. Everything matters. Events, people, places, and things all have meaning. When we value everything, we experience a shift in our spiritual walk. I visualize life more so with an acute sensitivity, approaching everything with the lenses of optimism, assurance, and adoration.
When I blew out the candles, I made a birthday wish. However, later that day I added a prayer. The hope was for me to not judge others who may see life differently. Perhaps it’s not through looking at everything around us with rose-colored glasses, but through lenses I prefer to wear, the lenses of hope, trust, faith, and yes, the lens of LOVE… always.
Just imagine becoming the way you used to be as a very young child, before you understood the meaning of any word, before opinions took over your mind. The real you is loving, joyful, and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun.