Be a Pansy

In the spring, I pass a group of planters by my office that are full of pansies. They are bright, cheerful and resilient. It snows, sleets, rains, and freezes, yet the pansies come back again and again.

I’ll pass them in the morning and they are wilted and faltering under the ice and frost. By the evening when I leave, they are standing tall, worshipping the sun, and beaming happiness and vitality to all. Sometimes a cold snap will knock them back for a couple of days, but they always come back. I have great admiration for these plants; they are strong and determined to shine.

When I look at them just right, I can see an energetic glow projected around them. I like to think of this as their song that they sing to the world, encouraging others to make it through their obstacles and stand tall.

When spring turns to summer and the heat gets turned up, there will be a day – it happens every year – when I come to work and the pansies are gone. The landscapers have ripped them out and replaced them with sun-hardy plants. Every year, I feel like I was gut-kicked as I think of my plant friends being ripped out by the roots and trashed before they were naturally ready to go. It hurts. But the next, I again admire the new group that gets planted. I can’t help it. Their cheerful colors and beautiful song suck me in every time. If they keep showing up for me, I’ll keep sending my gratitude and admiration to them. 

They are a wonderful inspiration, encouraging us all to have a pansy way of life!