Chicago Flowers
When I arrived in Chicago last week, one of my most moving early experiences was taking in and marveling at the enormous energy and beauty of the multitude of flowers that have been lovingly cultivated by local businesses, groundskeepers at the Lincoln Park Zoo, those creating and maintaining the endless splendor of the Chicago Botanical Gardens, and of course the countless homeowners who create their own gorgeous and, to me, surprisingly expansive floral beauty. Having come up to Chicago from Florida, where one can easily see flowers every month of the year, I realized that the less opportunity people have to enjoy their flowers, the more energy they seem to put into them.
Looked at one way, this could be seen as almost silly. Why would I put more or less five times more energy into creating beauty that only lasts for a few months than those who can have that beauty year round? Isn’t it ultimately a set up? Why get closer to something that goes away so quickly; why make something so important when it is only briefly experienced?
That way of looking at Chicago’s flowers misses the fact that they are a response and adaptation to impermanence. It reminded me of what I understand to be true about the generally well lived life. A person who lives 10 years mindfully will experience far more joy and depth than one who isn’t really paying attention and gets to do so for 50 years or more.
Taking in the beauty of a flower makes me slow down, following the old adage “Stop and smell the roses.” Pretty good advice, really. The more we slow down, the more pleasurable the ride. When we take it down a few notches, we discover much more room for appreciation and gratitude. We are wiser and more precise. We don’t drop things nearly as frequently and have far fewer accidents. Our anger is more adaptively dealt with because our thinking around it is more careful, which gives it space. We don’t cause as much suffering to others because we’re more careful. We find ourselves much more frequently able to touch Interbeing, giving us the awareness that we are a part of this wonderful, living ocean of manifestation.
When we bring real awareness to our flowers, it doesn’t matter that they are quickly gone. When we see and appreciate beauty and sources of joy, we know that however long they’re around is enough. The same holds true with anything that leaves quickly. So, if what you love will not be with you as long as you’d like, it may bring you more joy to stay in the present moment with gratitude than to fall into future fantasies of loss. Hold your flowers tight and let them make you happy right now.
