Unique

If yellow isn’t your favorite color, then you’ve got a problem here in Arizona. Ah, but life isn’t just about the color of something. No, it’s about character, something much deeper than surface color. So let’s take a second look at the lovely yellow flower, and when we do we realize that it is produced, nourished and resourced by a large green thing covered with long, spiney needles, sharp needles, ready to jab your leg if you get too close. Does this second look at the cactus flower invalidate its beauty, just because it happens to sit atop a big pin cushion? I don’t think so. The second look reminds me that it is a pleasure to see, especially when there are so many yellow flowers in my neighborhood. And, that if I treat it with respect, that is, if I give it space, room to just be itself, then it doesn’t have to be defensive and I don’t get pricked. And, that, like me, the cactus and its lovely yellow flower have some quirkey little traits because we are unique in this world. There are lots of other people on the planet and lots of other cactus plants with yellow flowers blooming, but there is only one of me and one of that cactus plant. When you get right down to it, it’s not fair to compare one person to another or one cactus to another. Better, I think, to acknowledge that while we may resemble others who are similar, that cactus and this person are one-of-a-kind. Quirkiness? I like to spread strawberry jam on my Egg McMuffin before I eat it and the cactus doesn’t like to be hugged. So, I will munch on my McMuffin, dripping strawberry jam, as I walk along the trail and I will say “good morning” to the flowering cactus without pushing my way into its space or judging its value to the surroundings because of the way it looks. And we will both be happy and we both will live another quirkey day.

See how this works? Isn’t yellow beautiful.