Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances. You are a child of God. Stand up straight.          -Maya Angelou

A few years ago our family visited the Hawaiian islands. There were many memories created and so many natural wonders enjoyed. However, I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful Plumeria flower.  I loved it so much that I purchased a small plant at the airport. What was I thinking? Long flight, headed to a planting zone not ideal but…instead I gift it to an aunt in Puerto Rico that I knew would appreciate and love its delicate flower as much as I would (plus I would get to enjoy it on visits).  That little plant had a hard time sprouting. No one thought it would make it. Then some leaves started to show signs of growth just a few months before Hurricane Maria hit the island. I did not even think any of the plant. It was long forgotten on a corner at my aunt’s yard because, let’s be honest, there are more important thing to tend to after a natural disaster.

Recently, my aunt send me some pictures. It has been 4 years since I heard about that plant. The plant is not only growing, it is blooming!  It is thriving. My aunt was just excited to share its beauty. I saw it and thought of myself and many others. Thoughts of resilience.

After long travels. After being beaten and pushed aside. After almost drowning.  After being “forgotten”, it learned to keep on living and eventually show its beauty and thrive! It was never really forgotten but even when it might have felt as it was, it searched for the light and grew.

We’ve all gone through much unpredictability and isolation recently, We’ve been beaten and pushed aside. We might have felt forgotten. We might feel as if just as you are growing leaves-the hurricane hits you. Just keep on living. Keep breathing. keep searching for the light. Your colors will show and beautify someone’s day when you least expect it.

Isn’t it amazing what you can learn and use as a life lesson from a “simple” plant?

Be resilient. You are stronger than you think. You’ve got this.