Gratitude — if it were a color, which one would it be today?

When I spotted this Japanese Maple seedling, its assertive color stopped me. Tree bling, albeit a little tattered at the edges. That the earth offers this rich, saturated hue delights me. It matches my mother’s favorite Christmas dress, worn yearly throughout my childhood.

Then there’s the seedling’s shape: flamboyant, open. A diva seedling. Botanists use the word samara for this winged shape. I like how that sounds, rolling off my tongue: Sah – mar’ – ah.

Notice the built-in transportation. When the stem lets go, the samara spontaneously whirly-gigs through the air.

Each seed has its mission: develop; break free; generate life

The longer I look, the more I see and the more I am moved by detail. Symbol. Potential applications to daily life. Insight develops. I need these small pauses. The wonder I absorb leads me to gratitude.

And being grateful defuses my fears when circumstances overwhelm me. [Read more…]