You Belong

 

Wildflower You

“You belong among the wildflowers,

You belong in a boat out at sea.

Sail away, kill off the hours.

You belong somewhere you’ll feel free…”

Tom Petty (“Wildflowers”)

          This song played on one of my Spotify feeds yesterday, and it got me to thinking—always dangerous. One of the questions in my mind was what kind of flower I would be if I were a flower. I remember being told once in a counseling group that I was like a flower this person had seen growing out of a crack in a rock. And then I remembered the little yellow daisy growing out of the crack in the asphalt just two blocks from my house—that’s the flower I would be. One that grows out of a crack in the asphalt; one that, incredibly, sprung from one seed that randomly fell into a crack at just the right time and place to sprout, leaf and bloom. What are the odds?

          That led to thinking about people I know. What sort of flower would they be? Isie, a Lady Banks rose, pale yellow. Anna, a peony, lacy and pink. Melissa, a sunflower—golden, showy, and doing its best to reach for the sun. Sharon, a water lily. Christine, a delicate narcissus. Dejuana, purple morning glory. Ladonna, a trumpet vine—brilliant orange. Sandy, definitely a daylily. Susan, a lovely, sweet-smelling gardenia. So many more—too many to name. And what about the guys? That’s harder for me—garden plants come to mind. David, a hardy yellow squash, with big trumpet flowers. Joe, a night blooming moonflower. Harry, periwinkle. This is fun. I could go on, but you get the point.

          Tom Petty’s song “Wildflowers” was written after his divorce when he was at the beginning of a new relationship. He was raised by his grandmother and had always been surrounded by the women of his family, with few male bonding experiences. He felt a strong empathy for the difficulties women experience. His new girlfriend was being sexually harassed by her boss and finally had to quit her job because of it. Perhaps “Wildflowers” was written with her in mind. The last verse is, “You belong among the wildflowers/ You belong somewhere close to me/ Far away from your troubles and sorrows/ You belong somewhere you’ll be free.”

          So, play the game with me—what flower would you be? What about your best friend, your mate, your sister? Just close your eyes and see them before you. Then let a flower image emerge in your mind. Don’t second guess it—just let it arise on its own. Then see if it fits with your image of them. The good news is that just by holding their image in your consciousness, you have blessed them for today. Send them flower power and wish them well. Don’t leave yourself out—you’re the most important flower of all!

                                                  In the Spirit,

                                                  Jane