Life Lessons From A Rose
“Do not watch the petals fall from the rose with sadness, know that, like life, things sometimes must fade, before they can bloom again.” - Anonymous
If you are an avid reader of our blogs, I may sound like a broken record at this point, but the beauty of nature always blesses my heart. It is oftentimes overlooked and taken advantage of but imparts a lot of wisdom, is naturally beautiful, and most of all, it's around us every day for free. It truly is a gift; I wish we did more to treasure it.
I live with my sister who always gets flowers or plants from her workplace. I never knew teachers could be spoilt with gifts, but that's beside the point. My sister will always give me the responsibility of taking care of her flowers and plants, so in fact, the gift is for both of us. Being green-fingered allows you to perceive a lot, especially when in tune with yourself and the world around you.
On this occasion, my sister came home with a rose plant. I've never taken care of roses, so it's been quite interesting, and so far, so good, the plant still lives, but it took a lot of work.
Here are my top 3 valuable life lessons, I promise it will bless you:
Lesson #1 - Perseverance and Resilience, But Don't Forget Patience Is Key
Despite the challenges and obstacles it faces, a rose continues to grow and bloom. Its environment can aid its life cycle, but ultimately, roses seek every opportunity to grow, which I found inspiring as I interpreted its visible sign of withering as its end.
I researched and pruned, and although the plant didn't look like how I received it, I noticed new buds. It revived, and I was so happy. Not all its stems were looking great, but because it showed life, I poured into it, whereas my sister was quick to want to throw it away. Patience my dear sister, patience... she couldn't see what I saw, and that's the same with people.
Not everyone sees you, and not everyone can understand your vision, and that's ok, as long as you still see it. We can learn from the rose's resilience and perseverance to keep pushing forward and overcome the challenges in our lives. We should not give up easily but instead, work hard towards our aspirations. Just like a rose, it takes time, patience and effort to see results.
Lesson #2 - Embrace Vulnerability, But Be Wise
One thing that I've learnt about being vulnerable, although you are exposed, you increase a deeper sense of self-awareness as you become aware of your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It can allow us to confront our fears, insecurities, and weaknesses, which can lead to personal growth and development.
Vulnerability is a natural state, it took me a while to accept that, but that can be saved for a different blog post. I've never known a plant to have so many issues within a short space of time, it just seemed to attract the good and the bad. From nutrient deficiencies (this was my main issue) followed by environmental stress, pest infestations the list goes on. But I was drawn to the fact that just because things try to sap your growth and health doesn't mean you lose your ground. This plant of mine will still stand tall and reach towards the light. Isn't that encouraging, if a plant can do that, why can't I?
A rose's delicate petals belie the strength and resilience of its stem and roots. Similarly, in life, our vulnerability and fragility do not diminish our inner strength and resilience. This serves as a reminder, that even the strongest and most beautiful things in life can be vulnerable and need protection and care. And one way to take care of yourself and your plants is through pruning. Now and then, we need to examine our lives and remove things that keep us from blooming.
A rose is not an isolated entity, it depends on the ecosystem - the bees, the birds and the wind for pollination and survival. Similarly, we also need each other for support, connection and growth. We are all interconnected and interdependent on each other and our environment.
Lesson #3 - Forgiveness Is Important, Forgiveness Heals
Steering away from its beauty, I managed to perceive forgiveness from a rose. Forgiving someone doesn't make you weak. It is a powerful and often challenging act that shows true strength. The lesson from a rose teaches us that forgiveness is a process that requires letting go, accepting and choosing to move forward. It's a gift to ourselves that brings peace and happiness, and it's a choice we can make for ourselves.
Just as a rose blooms gradually, forgiveness often takes time. It's not something that can happen overnight, and it requires patience and persistence. It was painful to see my rose petals wither. I was trying to hold onto them and was disheartened that the petals were just falling off so easily, but the plant wasn't bothered, I was. Just as a rose petal withers, forgiveness requires letting go of the hurt and pain caused by the person who wronged you, and that can be yourself too. Holding onto memories, grudges, and resentment will only cause more pain and hinder the process of forgiveness.
Roses can teach us that life is a continuous cycle with endings that make room for new beginnings. Its withering didn't stop it from growing, instead, the rose chose to grow towards the light. Forgiveness is a choice, it's not always easy, but it's a decision you can make for yourself. You have the power to overcome, it's just a matter if you want to choose life or death. You can hold onto the pain or let it go and move forward with forgiveness, to reach towards the light. Just as the rose has the ability to heal, forgiveness heals.
You see, roses are not just a thoughtless gift on special occasions, its richness is deeper than their beauty. With so much wisdom to instil in us, I hope this post makes you look at roses differently. But to end, life is a journey of growth, change and adaptation; by embracing change, accepting things as they are, being resilient and recognising our inner strength, we can navigate life's ups and downs and find meaning and purpose.
I'm telling you God speaks through nature, but are you listening?