To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”, I came across this Audrey Hepburn quote on my friend’s Instagram page some years ago, and ever since, I reflected upon it in more ways than I could imagine. What does believing in tomorrow mean? Is it hope? Resilience? Faith? I think it’s all of the above, and more.
The more I ponder about this quote, the more I realize what it means to thrive, to blossom, and to grow. For a flower to bloom, petal by petal, before it’s sold through distributors and flower shops, much is needed. Sunlight, water, and soil are vital for the little seed’s growth process and life cycle. Likely so, it reminds us that growth is not achieved overnight. It reminds us that while we may possess unimaginable strength and beauty, we can only thrive when we collaborate and cooperate. It reminds us that while that that one moment of utmost success, or blossoming, that we always yearn for, although short-lived, takes unimaginable preparation and patience. Like a flower blossoms and blooms, we blossom and bloom with faith, patience, and hope.
The beauty of a flower is not shielded from anybody’s eyes. While individual tastes and preferences may dictate whether a certain type of flower is considered beautiful or not, it’s grace and beauty can be seen by everyone. A flower does not attempt to dim it’s beauty or conceal its soul. I think flowers are true to themselves, assuming they’re of a species that possesses the cognitive abilities to think, feel and act, of course. Likely so, we shouldn’t stand in the way of our light. We shouldn’t inhibit our beauty.
On a final note, my oftentimes philosophical reflections landed me in thought patterns about flowers and love. We often gift our loved ones flowers, as an expression of love, or a congratulatory gesture. But have we ever thought about what we can learn about love from flowers? Well, John Lennon once said, “Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow.” I think it’s simple as that. The more we water our love for one another, our faith in a beautiful tomorrow actualizes.
-Omar AlOwais.
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