Daffodil Daydreams
Did you ever have one of those grey days when the weather isn’t quite sure what it’s doing, and the sky seems to by crying a little, and you’re overworked, overstressed, overloaded and you may join the sky in tears?
I had one of these days when my daughter was small — ok probably loads of these days, but this one day I remember in particular. Katie had to come with me and really hated her raincoat done up despite the weather. So there we were, me with ten ‘to-do’ lists in by brain and her being slow and grumpy in her rubber boots and open raincoat. Both of us getting damp and cold as we walked through the people on the street. Me trying to gain control with the ticking off of the mental lists occupying valuable space in my brain.
This grey day there was a fundraiser on the street. Selling daffodils in support of cancer research. Donating money was just another thing to add to my overloaded brain but as we passed the canvassers, my daughter was handed a single daffodil. I found some change in my pocket and we continued on our route. A few moments later as I was selecting produce in the sidewalk fruit market I heard people giggling, saw them pointing and smiling. I followed their gaze and found the object of their joy to be my daughter. There she was jumping puddles in her little rain-boots, raincoat flying, blond hair bouncing and her daffodil held tightly in her chubby little hand.
I still smile when I think of this memory. It gives me pause to remember that even when life seems overwhelming, it’s really not that bad. There are so many people suffering from illnesses like cancer who likely dream of a normal overloaded day of running errands in the rain. I remember to breath and think of little Katie jumping in the puddles with her daffodil. There’s always a little joy if you stop and take the time to look for it.
