If sunflowers could speak, this is what they would say…

The apple fell very far from the tree – and then continued to roll on down a hill, only to come to rest in a ditch – when you consider my horticulturally-gifted mother and I. I remember showing a slight interest in gardening once long ago to my mom’s pride and delight. She enthusiastically grabbed her garden fork and began to turn the soil so that we could plant something or other together. “Look Melissa, that’s an earthworm!” she exclaimed with glee, knowing how much I adore slimy invertebrates. And that was me done… there was absolutely no way I was sticking my hands into that worm-ridden un-lucky packet known as a flower bed.

But just because I am not a gardener doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate beautiful plants and flowers, my favourite of all being sunflowers. My friends and family who know me well have made sunflowers a part of the celebrations and sorrows of my life. They know that I find them comforting, uplifting and inspiring.

Sunflowers are incredible to look at and to touch, but what if they could speak? I think they would have some really wonderful life advice to impart…

Keep adjusting your focus towards what you are most grateful for in life.

Sunflowers always orient themselves towards that which brightens their world instead of just passively living in shadow on a sunny day. We have that choice too – do we focus on the shadows or do we look for every little bit of hope and joy in our day and focus on that instead?

Don’t be afraid to be boldly, colourfully and uniquely you.

There is nothing subdued about sunflowers and they aren’t concerned with trying to tone down their colourful and unique selves just to appeal more to those who might not find sunflowers appealing. What if we were the same? What if we embraced what is unique and wonderful about us instead of sacrificing parts of ourselves for fear that others may not like the entirety of who we are?

Keep reaching higher so that you can be the best possible version of yourself.

Sunflowers make good use of the soil they find themselves in to grow as tall as they possibly can. What would happen if we consistently did that too – drawing from the learnings of the past, enjoying the joys of the present and planning for the opportunities of the future? We can use all of those positives to grow just a little bit every day in whatever way we choose. You could choose to grow as a friend or a partner, you could choose to grow in peace or in fulfilment, you could choose to grow kindness towards others or yourself… there are so many possibilities when you truly seek them in the soil of your life.

You can brighten the lives of others simply by being you.

Many people see sunflowers as symbols of happiness and hope. A single sunflower can change the atmosphere of a room, making it brighter and more cheerful. We are often faced with situations where we feel powerless to help someone, wishing we could do more to support them. But as with sunflowers, we can add to someone’s happiness and hope just by being present with them. Have you ever considered that you are someone’s sunflower? The odds are that there are quite a few people you know whose days are brighter just because you are you.

There may be many others doing what you do, but if you embrace your individuality, nobody will do it quite like you.

A field of sunflowers is an absolutely stunning sight, but that field is only beautiful because each individual sunflower exists and is unique in its own beauty. Whatever profession you’re in, whichever roles you fulfil in life, whatever creative outlets you pursue – nobody can do that job, fill that role or create something new exactly like you. What if you actively leaned into what makes you different rather than creating a too-small box and trying to squash yourself into it?

Whether you’re a get-your-hands-dirty-and-love-them-worms type like my mom or a likes-to-pretend-gardens-magically-plant-themselves-and-there-are-no-such-things-as-worms type like me, I hope that stopping to enjoy the company of YOUR favourite flowers will inspire and uplift you. And if you weren’t a sunflower fan already, I hope this might have helped them gain even a little patch in the garden of your heart.

Wishing you exciting and inspirational revelations next time you come across your favourite flower!