Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz
Spring Is Coming Soon! Are You Ready To Bloom?
When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then, winter, will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of spring.
~Madeleine M. Cunin
Most of us would agree that winter has its difficulties. It’s too cold to spend a lot of time outside, the weather often keeps us from moving around or traveling, and we just tend to be less active. I know I always look forward to springtime. I love the wonderful scent of flowers, the texture of the petals, and the memory of the beautiful colors of flowers.
When I was growing up, my Dad always kept a small rose garden. He tended it all year to make sure it would yield beautiful flowers each spring. He was so proud to show off those flowers, and at the end of the season to pick the roses and give them to my Mom. They even transplanted those roses when they moved to a new home. My parents passed away a couple of years ago, and last week my husband came upon those roses… and is now plotting how he can bring them back to their beauty.
Life’s Seasons
We experience seasons of winter in life. Life certainly has its challenges, it has its seasons. We have times in which we burrow in and try to just stick it out, times when we experience immense sorrow, times we grow, and yes, times we blossom and bloom. And, in all honesty, we tend to cycle through these over and over as we transition. Life changes also offer each of us an opportunity to grow and learn and even bloom.
I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter is tough, but spring is coming. I believe there’s a growing season. And, I think that you realize in life, you grow. You get better.
~Steve Southerland
What can we do to grow and bloom? I am going to use the analogy of growing flowers… which in all reality is not a skill I have. In fact, somehow I even allowed an aloe plant to die…yet, there is something so beautiful and bold in the process of planting and growing flowers. Maybe one day I’ll develop a green thumb since I love flowers so much.
Get Ready For Planting
I have always heard the saying “bloom where you are planted.” I do not know who said it, but it emphasizes that we all have wonderful potential to have a positive impact wherever we are and in whatever situation we are in. However, it is also important on occasion to determine if the soil you are planted in is the best soil for you to grow and flourish. Flowers often have to be re-potted when they outgrow their pots. We too can outgrow our situations and need to find new soil. Are you in the right place? Is the place you are in allowing you to grow and to reach for the sun?
Weed The Garden Of Your Life
Flower gardens need to be regularly weeded, think of it as decluttering your life. Your physical environment; but also the things in your life that keep you from achieving your dreams and goals, or the things that keep you from growing need to be weeded out if you are going to move forward and upward.
Plant Yourself
Deciding what to plant and when to plant is really important. Each of us get to decide where we plant ourselves and what we will do with our lives. Set your goals. Decide what you want to grow in your life? What impact do you want to have? What beauty do you want to bring to your world? In what areas do you need to be more bold to make your life into a beautiful bouquet?
In winter I plot and plan. In spring I move.
~Henry Rollins
Nurture The Garden Of Your Life
As with flowers that must be watered and fertilized to blossom. We must commit to learning new things, cultivating positive relationships, and opening ourselves to new experiences that make us better. What are you doing to ensure energy, excitement, and enrichment in your life? We absolutely cannot grow and blossom without learning, without encouragement, and without good self-care.
Prune Your Life
To maintain their beauty, flower gardens must be pruned. The dead flowers and leaves must be taken off or they will block the beauty of the living flowers, and possibly even kill the live flowers. Prune your life of the time-wasters, and anything else that keeps you and your life from being bold and beautiful.
I love roses, and I know they are one of the most delicate flowers to take care of. But, the beauty they create is amazing. I want my life to have the beauty of a rose… and therefore I know I have to work and carefully nourish the garden of my life to make it beautiful. . And, maybe I’ll even try to help bring my Dad’s roses back to their beauty.
Connecting With Sylvia On Social Media:
- Facebook: @Sylvia Stinson-Perez
- Twitter: @SylviaSPerez101
- National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (NRTC): www.blind.msstate.edu/about
Author Bio:
Sylvia Stinson-Perez is a leader in the blindness field helping individuals and organizations succeed through innovative strategic planning and implementation. She has Master’s degrees in Social Work, Visual Disabilities Rehabilitation, and Business Administration. Sylvia is blind as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), however, she believes that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential, a conviction she promotes through:
- her position at the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
- projects she leads such as Speak With Confidence public speaking training, and mentoring
- service on advisory committees and boards of directors.
Image Descriptions:
- The header is a Hibiscus still in bud position
- Coral roses in a garden
- Preparing fresh soil for planting seedlings
- Woman weeding in the garden wearing protective gloves
- Variety of flowers in a greenhouse
- Young African American woman gardening
- An Asian woman works on pruning plants in her garden
- The author bio photo is a glamor shot of Sylvia in a pink spaghetti strap gown and her hair in a fancy updo.