Have you ever had a seemingly benign moment linger through your consciousness for years and years to come? I would like to share one of mine . . .
Many years ago, in a previous life, I was an elementary school teacher in Brooklyn.I worked in a school where little value was given to the children and families that attended. There were literally no supplies for my kids. No pencils, no paper, and worst of all, no textbooks. Most of the curriculum I was supposed to teach had to be home grown. This meant that I would stay up until all hours of the night creating lessons and such from scratch. As hard as this time was, it was also incredibly exciting for me. I had the opportunity to give my kids the support, attention and genuine caring that they so deserved, yet rarely received at school. My kids blossomed academically, but more importantly, they grew in themselves in ways that empowered them and gave them important lessons for living life. We were all very blessed in my classroom.
I remember a day, not unlike other days at P.S. 9, where I took a walk around the block to clear my head at lunchtime. My school didn’t have a playground as we know one to be. Our playground was a slab of concrete and a metal slide. As I stepped around the garbage and crack vials that littered the sidewalk, I came across a tiny miracle.
There, pushing its way through a tiny crack in the pavement was a lovely little flower. She wasn’t very big, nor was she very grand in her appearance. No matter. This flower was magnificent! She was glorious! She was downright regal!
I smiled to myself and went on with my day. Except that this day, that day, has lived inside of me for 24 years. Twenty-four years later I can still summon up that image in my mind and have the hope and glory of her divine presence breathe new life into me.
Inside each and every one of us is that same divine pull to fully bloom into the magnificent flowers we were meant to be. How do you push though the cracks in your own life and continue to grow into your beautiful self? We have all come through life the same way, born an innocent being, pure and perfect. Just as that flower prospered in Brooklyn, despite the challenges put in her path, how can you prosper in your own divine self, despite what challenges you?
I hope that with time, you will be able to find some inspiration as you read my blog. I welcome questions, feedback, and personal stories that we can share with one another . . . our own little flower family, so to speak, nurturing one another, providing the rich soil from which to thrive and grow.
Meanwhile, I offer this to you: KEEP YOUR FACE TO THE SUN.
Be that lovely kitty who always finds the sunniest spot to bask in. Refuse to be pulled down by the shadows, the darkness, the dim. LIft your chin to the heavens and sing your own praises. Be that puppy in the front seat of the car, head hanging out the window, loving every second of the sun, wind and sky.
With your face to the sun, there can be no such thing as winter.
Happy summer, 365 days of the year.