Being at Home in the Moment

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole

life would change.”

—Buddha

I vividly remember a time when I completely understood what the Buddha meant about seeing the miracle of a single flower being life changing. My husband Gene and I had a transoceanic courtship spanning the Pacific. To help bridge the miles, he once sent me red roses. After my sons were asleep, I took the time to luxuriate in every aspect of the fullest rose, exploring its textures and colors and the varying shapes of petals, stem, and stamen. To my surprise, tears of joy began to slip from my eyes, and I felt enveloped in love and connected to both the man who sent the roses and to their creator as well.

Although my rapt attention to the flower was the act of a young woman wildly in love, the experience of it has become an enduring touchstone reminding me of the power and joy a few mindful moments can bring. Decades later, I clearly remember that particular rose and can revisit the profound sense of wonder and awe I experienced while focusing on it.

Excerpted from The Woman's Book of Mindfulness by Sue Patton Thoele. Available on Amazon.