As life happens, I’ve met so many woman, some strong and independent, and some broken and bruised.

I’ll admit that I have a strong sense of admiration for the strong independent ones, but it’s the bruised and broken ones that inspire me more.

We all have been in seasons in our lives where we felt that we are drowning in mud, yucky murky water that fills your lungs and tries its best to suffocate the life out of you, yet life happens, and we cannot simply drown. We have children, husbands and people who depend on us, and thus we continue, dragging our feet through to mud, trying to make it through every day.

Now I’ve never been much of a trail runner (or any kind of runner to be honest), but there was a time when I attempted trail running, and then life happened and that what the end of it, but lets get back to the point. One thing that I do remember vividly, ist much easier to run through clear water and streams, than what it is to run though muddy water, let alone mud. Its exhausting!

I’ve never been much of a garden enthusiast either, but my sister mentioned something to me last night, and it stuck. She said, “did you know that the lotus flower grows in mud”? Now some of you might assume that I’ve been living under a rock, but I seriously did not know this! I’ve always been particularly fond of the lotus flower, as I have a fascination with beautiful foreign cultures and mythology, and many moons ago dreamed that one day I’ll make beautiful paintings of Geishas, Koi fish and even Lotus flowers.

The lotus story stuck, and when the Bee and I got home from our weekend trip, I took the time to read about this flower and I’m inspired!

If only we could learn to be more like the Lotus flower. If only we could realise that the mud and sludge in our lungs could be fertiliser to help us to break through the water’s surface, and finally blossom.

Jip, the lotus flower blooms above the water’s edge, to be more clear, it blooms much higher than the surface, far away from its roots and the mud that fed and nurtured it. Rain and water doesn’t rot its leaves, and it stands proudly, allowing the water and dirt to drip right back into the water, without even being affected by it.

How much easier would life be, if we could simply ignore the water and mud that is sometimes thrown at us, simply let it run off your petals, without affecting your heart or emotions.

You see, the lotus flower reaches towards the light while it is submerged in the mud and slime. That’s how it manages to break through the murky water into its next step before its pod blooms.

Why not be more like the pod? Keep your heart and emotions tucked in, while you’re surrounded by the mud and slime, and reach towards the light. Keep you eye on the sun, because sooner or later, you’ll break through the surface and finally bloom. And should the rain or storms of life manage to end up on your petals, simply let it drop

right off, into the mud where it belongs.

I understand that not everyone has the luxury of simply walking though the mud, to get out on the other side, and to some their situations are much more difficult and exhausting. (remember the mud run?). But while you don’t have the luxury of getting to clear water, you do have the choice to become the lotus flower, right there, stuck in the mud, yet blooms in adversity.

What if we could teach our children to be like the lotus flower when the mud bullies of life should cross their paths?

We could teach them to let the bully words simply run down their petals, without affecting their beauty. Let the mud make you stronger and beautiful.

No lotus flower is like the other. Each flower blooms in its own beautiful way. Actually, the lotus flower’s roots are all entangled together in the mud, but blooms on its own. So while we’re all struggling to break through the surface, each one blooms in its own time, in its own unique way.

The more muddy and murky the water, the more beautiful the flower, and the stronger the stem.

Embrace the mud if you have to, dig your roots (heels) in, keep your petals tucked in away from the hurt and pain that the world can cause, and keep your eyes on the light, because eventually the mud and pain would have made you strong enough to break through the water’s edge, your beauty will be inspiring and your heart will know the sun.

#inspiration #abuse #bullies #bethelotusflower #findthesun #youarestrong #youarebeautiful #lifehappens