simplicity + wildflowers

To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower. -William Blake

For me, simplicity is a filter. It is the practice of knowing when to stop, what to overlook, and be more discerning of my physical limitations and time. I don’t say this lightly as someone who underwent back surgery a few years ago. It taught me how to reassess life and be intentional about my pursuits, however small. It taught me how to slow down… and by slowing down, I noticed wildflowers.

Our first grand-love is Lantana Cherie. Our son picked that name for her while touring in the UK and dining at a restaurant called Lantana. He inquired about its meaning and the owner said simply, “It’s a wildflower and wildflowers are resilient.”

I ponder our human existence: life is a challenge. Confounding things happen in the world that we cannot control and pollute our peace of mind and leave us scratching our head. Our own lives are fraught with schedules and time commitments and unexpected calamities. Even going to the market and seeing how many product variations are before us is daunting. It’s like the Cheesecake Factory menu. Over the top.

Some people navigate through challenges like American ninja warriors and others not so much. I’m in the latter category.

The solution for me is to keep things simple, hoping to avoid complications that make life less enjoyable. Or fruitful. By avoiding complexity, I hope to stay mostly within my circle of competence. It’s an effort that reminds me of my smallness but calls me to rise above the noise and try to be resilient after I’ve weathered a rain torrent. I hope you are also able to find simplicity and resilience in your day.