Don’t call me your gentle flower; I want to be tough as a succulent
I found this little guy on a sunny window sill in the Airbnb I stayed in recently.
I was drawn in by the shape. I am a sucker for beauty so naturally, I was fascinated with the incredible pattern and perfect geometrical form.
But then, the more time I spend looking at this little plant, the more it made me realise how much I want to be like it.
Succulents are incredibly tough. Known for their endurance to unfavourable conditions, I want to be just like it; strong and resilient. Unlike other more demanding plants, succulents don’t require much care. A drop of water every now and then, and a nice sunny spot is enough for them to grow. I too want to be able to thrive on as little as possible. I need to shake off the unnecessary things from my life that weigh me down and instead focus on the necessities that will help me grow without cluttering my life.
Unlike roses and other flowering plants which lose their bloom before they are reborn in the spring, succulents don’t lose any part of themselves. They remain the same, only adding more to what they are. This is exactly what I aspire to as well. While life can be hard at times I’d never want to lose pieces of myself. I want to grow and add more to my character. I don’t dream to be reborn or hide my scars; I just want to be more.
I recently found out that this particular plant is known as Buddha’s Temple Plant, which is kind of amazing. You see, I’ve been looking for inner peace these days, even dabbled in meditation. So reflecting on how I want to be strong, resilient and evergreen like this little one only to realise that it holds the key serenity as well made this all too perfect.
I don’t want to wither when life gets tough, I don’t want to shed away who I am every season and get reborn over and over again. I don’t want to be dainty and fragile.
So please don’t call me a flower. I am strong, I am resilient, I am more.
