A Black Rose

6am.

Alarm clock goes off nudging my previously sleeping mind.

The air is cool, winter has arrived.

No snow.

No ice.

Temperatures well above freezing, thankfully, but I can't stop my intermittentl shivering as I venture towards the bathroom.

The showerhead's warm water soothes my body's apprehensive skin.

This can often be the hardest part of the routine.

The catalyst guaranteeing my day has begun.

Bob Marley sings about a love lost and whether it was worth it.

Introspection follows.

As I dress myself I wonder why I see it fit to dress myself in these colors.

Looking as somber as the dark morning sky outside.

Today, my pedals as black.

Same as the ashes in our fireplace.

Same as the coffee I'm soon to drink.

Same as the shadows that will inevitably be cast once daylight breaks.

Today, I am a black rose,

As bold as it's red cousin, subtle as it's yellow counterpart.

We all come in different colors, shapes and sizes.

We are, however, all able to choose our individual shades, from day to day.

And today I choose to be myself. 

We The Roses

11/24/14

If You Love a Flower...

If you love a flower, don't pick it up.

Because when you pick it up it dies

and it ceases to be what you love.

So if you love a flower, let it be.

Love is not about possession.

Love is about appreciation.

-Osho

Life is full of flowers.

Some flowers are objects,

some flowers are people,

and some are inanimate objects.

I have picked my fair share.

Thinking I was preserving what I cared about.

Thinking I could save that which I needed for another time,

a rain check of sorts.

But ultimately 

I have learned that flowers need their essentials,

all of which, are acculated independent of myself.

Flowers need soil,

to develop root systems and grow.

Flowers need sunlight,

to photosynthesize and become their future selves.

Flowers need water,

to weather the cyclic seasons and persevere.

But most of all, flowers need time.

Time to organically grow from a seed to a shoot.

Time to grow, from it's shoot, baby leaflets.

And after those stages,

a flower needs time to  become adult.

So it can display itself in its truest form.

We often think that when we pick our flowers up,

they are in their final, adult, stage.

We are often wrong.

We might be ready to pick it up,

not that doesn't mean the flower is ripe for the picking.

Most flowers could still benefit from the essentials.

From the soil.

From more sunlight.

From more water, and naturally,

from more time.

So when you bend at the waste, ready to make your bouquet,

think twice about whether the flower in you life has had enough essentials.

Time will tell if the flower should be picked at all.

Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.

WeTheRoses

9/4/14

Leave a Crater

Science has found evidence of the largest crater to be "found" on record.

NASA officials formally note the discovery of a crater on the surface of Mars.

The 'biggest' and 'freshest' crater to be discovered using before-and-after images is something to behold.

50-plus yards in diameter.

A significant find.

Clearly someone has too much time on their hands.

But still, it is impressive.

But

It begs the question...

How can something so large

Be so small?

In comparison, it is a mere blemish on the surface of its host planet.

A Milky Way Proactive Promo.

We tend to exaggerate those things that are new, while sometimes omitting the importance of the things that are truly noteworthy.

Man.

Water.

Soil.

Mars has none, 

at least that we know of, 

But behold the power and prowess of science.

But what about the craters on the surface of our planet?

The 'third rock from the sun'?

Not that of the Yucatan Peninsula,

or those that reflect dormant volcanoes and geologic events,

But those that are left behind

By Man.

Under Water.

Or in the Soil.

Or in the air, 

with no tangible trace or history?

What about our craters.

Those left by Napoleon?

By Egyptian Kings and Queens?

By our Founding Fathers?

By Biggie and Pac?

What about OUR craters?

In this age of information lets not forget to reflect, and respect,

to take the time and recognize the amazing fact that we are, and have been,

Here.

Our history, our lineage, our past is something to behold. 

So read up.

Learn about the Cosmos.

Listen to Neil Degrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and NASA officials.

But don't forget that our roots,

Our craters

are all based in

Man,

Water,

Soil.

So before you get caught up on CNN, 

on YouTube,

Or on NYtimes.com,

Leave your own crater. 

Whether or not it can be seen with a before-and-after pictures.

We The Roses.

5/23/14

Spring has Sprung.

The equinox passes.

An abstract becomes etched in our calendars and a week of summer weather ensues.

All to convince us of this seasonal shift. 

All signs point to warmth, BBQs, and tank tops.

But then it rains.

And rains, 

and rains.

Spring has sprung?

On paper, yes.

For many of us this winter was too dry

Leaving all parched.

So, maybe these spring showers are making up for lost time...

And allowing our roots to soak up their natural elixirs.

All flowers need sun,

But first the roots need water.

Spring has sprung.

So let your roots grow

And soon all pedals will bloom.

We The Roses

4/1/14