Flowers, flowers everywhere! Now that spring is here, I’ve been hiking almost every weekend (a major reason why I wanted to move back to the mountains!) and on the trail, it’s fun to see flowers poking through…first it was cheery yellow daffodils and now I’m seeing dainty purple violets and tiny white petaled blooms emerge.
Flowers evoke all sorts of emotions and can send powerful messages to our psyche or to those we love.
- Want to feel happier? Put a colorful bouquet of sunflowers on your desk.
- Need to give a pop of color to a grey room? Add a vase of multi-colored roses.
- Thinking of a special someone? Buy their favorite flower and send it to them.
- Want to add some life to your bedroom? Put some gardenias, magnolias, or lavender on your dresser.
- Feeling blue? Try tiger lilies or lemon lilies to lift your spirits.
(If you enjoy fiction, I highly recommend The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh where you’ll learn about the various meanings of flowers through the eyes of the main character, a young woman who grew up in the foster care system and who primarily communicates using flowers.)
Practice self-care with flowers with these simple tips:
1. Grow flowers in your yard. You could plant a garden, install flower beds around your property, or simply do container gardens on your front or back porch. It’s extra fun to share bulbs and plants with friends.
2. Buy yourself flowers on a regular basis. Put some on your dining room table or the corner of your desk. When I was in graduate school, I had a limited budget but I made a point to buy myself a $5 bouquet of carnations every two weeks (they usually lasted the full two weeks) just to bring some cheer into my little apartment.
3. Wear jewelry with flowers on it. A fashion trend for 2023 is Flower Power. Check out the Sacred Celebrations bracelets with flowers. My favorite is the lavender amethyst (shown here) but we also have onyx and lapis lazuli (not on the website but you can email me to order). Remember that Mother’s Day and graduation season are coming soon!
4. Buy a bouquet of flowers and give a bloom to each person you see throughout the day. I heard about this idea years ago and love the notion of walking up to random people saying “Here, have a flower!” – it will brighten their day and no doubt brighten yours as well!
5. Drink herbal tea made from flowers. Some delicious and healing choices include chamomile, hibiscus, rose, lavender, echinacea.
6. Hang flower inspired art. One of my favorite artists is Lori Portka and her work has rich, colorful flowers everywhere. She has greeting cards, magnets, pillows, puzzles, scarves, and of course, prints of her work. Shop Lori’s collection here.
I love the symbolism of flowers. They start off as seeds, sprout, then turn into full grown flowers! Just like humans and animals, there is a magical growth experience that is awe-inspiring to witness.
What is your favorite flower? Leave a comment to tell me. Can you guess what mine is?
Here’s to your Blooming!
Elizabeth
P.S. I’ve been writing, speaking and talking about self-care for more than a decade. I often reference flowers! 😊 If you haven’t yet purchased the Kindle eBook, Smart Self-Care for Busy Women: 20 Lessons to Help You Create the “Me Time” You Keep Putting Off, do it now!