SURPRISES --LIFE'S CONFETTI

Life is a litany of tiny surprises (unexpected moments of delight) that we easily and often miss.  A perfect example is the topic of today's post.  The four of us were driving the back streets of a nearby town when I spotted the house with a front yard adorned with pink and white petunias.  Yup, the boyfriend backed the car up so I could take these photos and share them with you, my faithful followers.....

See the little gnome on the lower right?

A lot of Midwest towns showcase big baskets of stunning, colorful,  trailing petunias hanging from lamp posts up and down the streets.  In the early evening you can see volunteers driving up and down the streets in golf carts, watering them.  

Petunias are named after the South American word Petun, which is another name for Tobacco.  Petunias belongs to the nightshade plant family that also includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and tobacco.   This popular trumpet-shaped flower is a genus of about 35 species of flowering plants of South America.  Originally, they were wild plants with small flowers, but over time have been genetically modified into these showy varieties.

Talking about these tiny surprises sprinkled across our paths is a good way for us to be open to the wonders of our world.  Simple pleasures come in all sorts of ways.....

• Simple pleasures.  A favorite song on the radio, the comfort of freshly washed bed sheets, the purring of a cat or the softness of a puppy's kiss.
• Unexpected kindness.  Think about the thoughtful gestures from people we don't know, like when someone holds the convenience store door open for us.  
• Feelings of connection.  A warm hug, a shared giggle or a genuine compliment.
• Beauty in nature.  The color of the flowers, the sound of rain and thunder, or the nightly settings of the sun. 

Despite what else is happening in our lives, we absolutely do have opportunities to shift our focus on the good and the beautiful here on Earth.  One cannot, and should not, expect the Happy Fairy to lead us around and point us toward these tiny surprises.  Not by a long shot.  There's a thing called personal responsibility.  It's up to us to pay attention to the small details around us.  There's lots of stuff to be grateful for every single day, no matter what other pains try to strangle the breath out of us.  We've got to invite, and be open to, the unexpected things that elevate our thinking.

Looking back at the already-lived decades, I sometimes wonder if the greatest challenge in life is this business of finding surprises in everyday moments.  Rather than letting our minds race ahead worrying about the future and whining about the past, we should be mindful of the here and the right now.  We don't have to transport ourselves to exotic places or spend money to see mega events, 'cuz we can know joy right smack dab where we are.  All we need to do is engage with our surroundings.

 

  

"Some people could be given an entire field of roses and only see the thorns in it. Others could be given a single weed and only see the wildflower in it.  Perception is a key component to gratitude.  And, gratitude is a key component to joy."  ~Amy Weatherly