LIFE LESSONS

Smelling the Fragrant Flowers Brings Pure Joy

Appreciating the little moments.

Beauty is everywhere, this much I guarantee. You just need to catch it between blinks to avoid missing it….look again. ~ Whatever Lola Writes

Earlier in the month, I decided to treat myself to brunch. Nothing fancy or expensive — just an egg & cheddar cheese sandwich, with some sautéed onions.

On the way back from the local bakery, I was awestruck.

The vibrant flamboyán was in full bloom. This wasn’t the first time I had noticed her radiant beauty, but something about that day was different. I took several photos, from varying angles…wanting to capture her essence.

At one point, I even stood in the street (of course, watching for traffic) to snag an alternate view. No matter which way I put my cell phone’s camera, she was (and is) stunning.

I took several from a distance and then got close up. Her bright reddish-orange and yellow flowers smiled down on me as I basked in the beauty of her umbrella of branches.

I could not get enough of Her.

Grabbing a few selfies of me smiling, eyes open — then shut, I inhaled the sweet softness of Her flowers. I felt like a little kid again. It all felt so wondrous.

Cars buzzed by, a few drivers even honked their horns. I paid them zero attention. These moments were all about me and the flamboyán. I wondered what She thought of everything I was doing. Surely, She could sense my presence.

Then the thought hit me.

Why not have brunch here? There’s a bench directly beneath the other side of the flamboyán, facing the street I live on (calle San Patricio). At first, I was a pinch hesitant because I had no beverage. But, I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

Since my sandwich was in my purse, I decided to stay.

Savoring the freshly made meal, I slowly chewed small bites of the bread-wrapped egg-cheese-onion delight. Sitting on that bench, feeling the soft Caribbean breeze on my skin, I was nourished in a multitude of ways.

My heart was at peace in those moments. My soul felt calmer under the shade of this towering majestic being. And I understood why. I’d been going through a rough patch — financially struggling, emotionally drained, romantic disappointment.

It was all too much.

So, allowing myself to spend $4 on a breakfast sandwich (instead of making one at home) was a big deal. Getting out to take a short walk, seeing the beauty of Borikén, and hearing the sounds all around were reminders of everything I should show gratitude for.

There’s something else I wasn’t focusing on, but now writing this piece, I’m able to reflect a bit more. As a child, the flamboyán trees I would see along the countryside of my maternal grandparent’s town of Trujillo Alto were ubiquitous. They always brought a smile to my heart.

My ancestors knew all along…I just needed a little reminder. 💚

Gracias for reading.

If you’d like to learn more about why the flamboyán tree is so dear to us, catch this History Harvest article.

Might you like to invite me to a Ko-Fi?

Before I go, wanted to share this story about Gerbera flowers, a little bit of Irish history, and reflections on colours, by Lucinda Munro Cook.