The Last Lily

I started the fall care of my stella de oro lilies, and I saw what is maybe the Last Lily of the season and it made me think... As usual when gardening my plants and flowers teach me a lot about life and leadership. (Growing Leadership Blog)

As I was pulling the dead stems and leaves I saw one of the last lilies of the season. It was humble, a little sad, surrounded by dead leaves, and clearly not as big as some of the beautiful blooms from this spring when the lilies were absolutely popping.

It made me think... is this bloom not just as special? Or is it more special? It's been dry, hot, the rest of the plant is withering.... but this bloom said it's my time, maybe not the perfect time, but it's my time. It came to shine, and it might not know it is smaller than the spring blooms, you know what, it might think it is the best bloom, it is the only one out there right now!

Maybe I connected cause lately I have felt the same. It's been a hard year, lots of work, lots of challenges, lots of things both personally, professionally and family related that have pulled my attention. Plus I got another year older... I am not a spring bloom anymore myself. Ha.

Life is about perspective. It is about seasons that come and go, it is about change and growth. It is about waiting for your time, and also about using whatever time you have, to make something beautiful. It is about not comparing yourself to other blooms, or about not being afraid to be the only bloom.

Lately I have felt how I first saw that Last Lily; not as bright, not as big, not as vibrant... now I feel better, knowing that maybe the situation isn't perfect, but we are blooming. I am blooming (at least trying). I am not the perfect bloom and I have a ways to go, but this Last Lily also says, I'll be back next season, you just wait and see...

Thanks Last Lily for the life lesson, you are a beautiful bloom.