Destined to Bloom
Reflections from April
Walking through one of my favorite neighborhoods, I took in Spring’s blessings with deep breaths—the blooms, that perfect shade of new-life-green being the living proof that rebirth is real. Springtime walks are my favorite. As I strolled, smiled at strangers, and watched geese go at it across the pond, an exhale of relief flowed through me. The deep, belly-emptying release was proof that I made it through a relentless and gnarly season. Each Spring, when nature starts to emerge with new beginnings, I am reminded why walking during this time of year makes everything that shook me in seasons prior so worth it. In retrospect, of course.
I was the happiest I'd been all week when I took the photos in this post. Emotionally, I've felt in limbo these days. Half steady and half deep in the trenches of big emotions and feelings. Taking this walk after my errands regulated me. I didn't want to go home quite yet. I wasn't ready for the noise of kids, the demands of adulthood, or the guilt of having zero energy for either.
No one talks about how you can deeply love your life and the people in it and still need pockets of time and space to be completely alone. We can't be anything to anyone if we are nothing to ourselves.
So I walked and walked and walked and loved every step of alone time, birdsong, and nature sound, even if just for 45 extra minutes.
My camera was at home, but my phone was ready. A part of me wasn't sure I'd be able to capture the beauty on an iPhone 15. That thought almost discouraged me from taking these pictures, but I'm glad I chose to work with what I had. Life is funny that way—inviting, nudging, and sometimes shoving us to work with what is within reach. Capturing the micro-moments of joy and beauty during this 1.5-mile walk showed me so much about overcoming and returning home to myself. Nature is a beautiful teacher.
The older I get, the more peace I feel about life being intricate and delicate yet encouraging. We're all confronted with a myriad of trials that can test our hearts and the resilience of our souls, yet here we stand, steadfast and unyielding—putting one foot in front of the other. My solo walks with my camera (or, in this case, my phone) offer reassurance and respite.
At the end of this stroll, I felt refreshed. Each step echoed with the whispers of seasons past, reminding me that the trials endured in Autumn and Winter serve not as shackles but as nourishment for the blossoms of resilience within us.
In the embrace of nature's awakening, I found comfort in this: Adversity may bend me but cannot break me.
In this life, on these paths, we are destined to bloom. To rise from the ashes of hardship, and flourish with newfound strength and grace when the time is ripe. We are already sown. Rooted deeply in the truth of who we are. We are the harvest. Let us always remember our strength, and find peace in the pieces on the path.
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On my tea bag the other day it read… “The world laughs in flowers”. Ralph Waldo Emerson
This was such a beautiful and soothing read! Really resonated with the heart. Thank you for sharing, and may May give you more micro-moments of joy and wonder. 🌸