A Year of Gratitude – June 12, 2024

I found my gratitude in a reminder from the garden. I planted this African Marigold last week. I have always loved them and added four of them from the clearance section at our local home improvement store.

I plant marigolds in my garden every year. Sure, I know that they are beneficial for my garden beds. I also find them to be beautiful. I think that their beauty is often overlooked.

There’s just something about a flower that is so colorful, so vibrant and easy to keep while also helping to protect the garden from pests. That’s a plant that I want to make sure is in my garden every year.

I know that some people might find marigolds to be too ordinary. When I look at this double bloom full of countless bright yellow petals, I don’t see anything ordinary. I just see something spectacular.

Ordinary things can be exceptionally beautiful. There’s nothing wrong with ordinary. It’s just a shame that so many things, including people, are written off as being ordinary as if it is a flaw. I just don’t see it that way.

Perhaps that is because I am ordinary. I am, although I don’t see that as an imperfection.  Ironically, it gives me an extraordinary point of view in which to appreciate the ordinary things around me. For life is made up of ordinary, everyday things and experiences. If I can choose to see the wonder and beauty within them, within myself, then I will be surrounded by wonder and beauty every single day.

I hope that you will find beauty and wonder in your day today.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.