A single weed in a field of yellow can be magical.
It’s that time in Spring when dandelions create a magical golden carpet on park fields.
T and I enjoyed a nice walk on Mothers Day. The sun was shining and it was warm enough for T-shirts, shorts and crocs.
“Oh my God, stop taking stupid pictures,” T screamed, because he wanted to play with me.
Seeing the futility in his whining, he asked if he could borrow my phone. Then he snapped this delightful photo.
Then he yanked up more dandelions.
Like many others, I enjoy looking at NASA photos of fascinating outer space places like Mars.
But I also think living on Mars would lose its novelty quickly.
I bet Martians would find dandelion fields enchanting – and if they end up being hostile, allergies will kill them off.
It really is about perspective – and one thing that helps ground me is gratitude.
I often start my day with prayer and give thanks for things I’m grateful for. This often clears the fog in my head, redirects stress and gives a boost of energy to step into my day.
To be clear, it’s not about ignoring challenges or pretending things are all ok.
It’s about choosing a mindset on how to deal with the good, bad and everything in between.
When raising a neurodiverse child, it’s an invitation to take a deep breath.
To reframe a challenge as an opportunity to grow.
To try differently not harder.
To see the blessings when it’s easier to focus on the disability.
To find laughter in the absurdity.
And I’d like to share a few things from the past week that I feel grateful for:
For T’s CYW, who is a Godsend. Thanks to her, T is growing academically and socially – and finding the confidence to participate more in class.
For the bright colours blooming in our garden.
For the announcement of new Kylie Minogue music on its way. Already in love with the look and sound of her upcoming era.
For moments when T wants to learn a new skill and help make his lunch.
For this delicious bowl of spicy beef and tendon noodle soup that I enjoyed at a Taiwanese restaurant, where we took Ma and my aunt for dinner to celebrate Mothers’ Day.
I am thankful for the moments – it’s often the small moments – that remind me that when you view ordinary things from a different lens, a single weed can be the golden spark that lights up the dark.
What a beautiful post Ab! That field of dandelions is gorgeous. Tell T he took a fantastic picture too. Oh and I want a bowl of that soup, it looks delightful!
Thanks Diane! I’ll be sure to tell him. We love it too and I want it framed.
If you ever make it out to Toronto, I’m gonna take out on a food tour of some of my favourite spots!
Being grateful is the key to happiness, and I think you got that nailed. You are also setting an amazing example to T.
Wonderful pictures! Blessings!
Thanks very much. We hope so. 🙏
I’m all into getting ourselves into the right mindset without ignoring or belittling the challenges we’re facing. I think it’s a good way to stay sane and focused. One thing at a time, it’s not the end of the world when you fail at something, it’s worth celebrating when good things come your way, with Martians around or not. I love this post, Ab!
Thanks Bama! I get the sense you practice this regularly in your life too. Hope you’re enjoying your week. Almost the weekend too, hooray!
I try to. It’s not always easy though. I’m lucky that today is actually a holiday here in Indonesia. One more day to work this week! Hope you’re having a great week too!
Ooh lucky to have a holiday in the middle of the week. What holiday is it?
It’s the Ascension Day.
I am thankful that I met you as a fellow writer! Great Post!
Thanks Vickie. I feel the same way. I’m glad we met through the blogging community. 😊 Hope you have a great rest of your week!
What a great picture of the field of dandelions. They are supposed to be really important for bees. I admire your mindset when it comes to approaching life and how gratitude is a big part of that. What a great way to start each day to just take a second and think about the things you are grateful for. Enjoy the rest of your week and long weekend ahead.
Thanks Linda. I know you and K would appreciate nature and its weeds. 😊There are so many things to appreciate in life all around us if we just open our eyes more widely to them.
This work week is nuts for me – every single minute is booked. 😆 But taking it one hour at a time and before you know it, it’ll be the long weekend.
I bet you have something fun and outdoorsy planned for yours. May we both get to it soon! Take care.
Nature – yes; Weeds – as long as they’re not in my garden! But you’re right, there’s so many things to be appreciative and grateful for that are all around us.
Sorry to hear that this week has been crazy busy. Hopefully things will quiet down later in the week as everyone gets ready for the long weekend.
We’re thinking about taking a day trip to the Georgian Bay Islands National Park, but are a bit worried about what the bug situation will be like. So we’ll see. Besides that, we plan on spending time in our backyard gardening. We just opened our pool last weekend, so maybe we’ll even go for a swim.
I’ll have to look up Georgian Bay Islands National Park. I can’t remember if you blogged about it before – too early and haven’t had coffee yet 😆 – but Georgian Bay in general is just lovely. Have a great time if you go.
And how lucky to have a look in your backyard. Enjoy it! Almost halfway done the week!
I’ve never been to Georgian Bay Islands before, so it’ll be nice to check it off our list. We’re debating whether to go this weekend or save it for later in the summer because of the mozzies. I also imagine traffic is going to be brutal, but that’ll likely still be the case later in the summer as well!
This entire post brought a smile to my face. There is nothing … NOTHING more beautiful to me than a field of dandelions and other wildflowers, preferably filled with bees going about their busy work of pollinating and providing food for our sustained life. T has the right idea!!! Until last year, our sunflowers attracted bumblebees and in the mornings when I would go out to water the flowers, the bees and I would converse, often with one of them perched on my nose or the rim of my glasses while I talked to it in a soft, gentle tone. I do so love nature!!!
Thanks Jill. I see some bees and bumblebees in our garden and on the fields. It’s very comforting to see as I now understand the need for them and their value to the ecosystem. So allergies be damned, let the wildflowers grow.
🌼 + 🐝 = 🤧
This was so heartwarming! It’s the little things ❤️
Thanks Margie. Hope you had a nice Mothers Day!
I used to love dandelions when I was a kid too!
Thanks Claire. I can see why you did!
Well, I’m flattered 🙂
This is a beautiful post, and holds such truth Ab. It really is all about perspective. I think remembering what our lives hold in gratitude is incredibly important. As your saying, it’s not denial its balance and in truth ~acceptance. Beautifully expressed, and insightful as always. ❤️
Thank you LaDonna. It’s always so nice to hear from you. And you said it best – our lives hold so much and when we take a moment to take stock of the good, while accepting the truth of the bad, it is an incredibly freeing experience.
Hope you and your family are doing well!
❤️❤️
Now that you shared this, I think I want to look around and be grateful for one or two things …..it’s a wonderful attitude. Nice article!
Thanks Faith! I bet you will find more than one or two things if your beautiful travel posts are of any indication. 😊
Wonderful. Makes me smile because I’m reading this drinking Dandelion Tea.
Thank you Gary! People have mentioned dandelion tea to me. I will have to try it. Do you just use the dandelion from your garden – this is a genuine question, I don’t know.
Wow, what a beautiful post that has just filled my cup. “To try differently not harder.” Yes! And the gorgeous pictures (thank you, T and Ab) to go with the gratitude list are wonderful. I love the one of the Dandelion not yet open. Beautiful! Happy Mother’s Day to a fantastic parent and friend!
Thank you Wynne! I love that you noticed the detail of the dandelion that’s not yet open. Hope you and the kids had a nice Mother’s Day weekend!
Beautiful, Ab! This reminds me of a quote I saw earlier today: “You aren’t a victim of your circumstances, you’re a victim of your outlook.” We get to choose what it is to see, and even the weeds can be beautiful. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!
Thank you, Erin. That is a lovely quote and I wholeheartedly agree. Have a wonderful week ahead!