This arrived as a blob.
A moss-covered blob tucked into a gift box with a card attached exclaiming:
Merry Christmas!
Love, Mom
Accompanying the mysterious, moss-covered blob were instructions:
Do Nothing.
No water.
No care.
Just sunlight.
And in several weeks you will have two gorgeous, blooming Amaryllis flowers.
Mmmmmkay…I chortled, as I am known to do when sent weird shit with questionable instructions from the land of Abracadabria.
I called my mother to interrogate, thank her for her thoughtful gift.
“What did you send me?” I asked in the nicest way possible.
“Oh, do you like it?”
“I, I, I don’t know yet.”
“Just give it some time.”
“Okay. Question…”
“Yes?”
“Is it supposed to look dead?”
She laughed, “That’s crazy, isn’t it? But in a few weeks, it will be beautiful!”
“Yes, crazy.”
“Gotta go, The View is starting and Whoopi is ranting about—”
I let her go. Because after decades of experience—my life works out so much better when I do.
During the winter months, the sunniest spot in my house is the dining room table, so instead of the usual poinsettia extravaganza, I sat the blob on a plate in between two candles and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
“That’s…interesting.” One of my friends commented, pointing at the blob.
“It’s a Christmas blob… from my mother.”
“Pretty.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Festive.”
“Right? I mean, it’s got green moss.”
Along the way, it sprouted horns. Or, buds. I wasn’t sure having never raised a blob before.
Then, sometime around the end of December, like a goddamn Christmas miracle, the blob bloomed. Except it happened when we were in Sedona so I wasn’t there for it.
But you can imagine my surprise when I returned from my holiday to a blob that had morphed into a real-life Amaryllis!
I mean, it’s gorgeous! And I did NOTHING! Less than nothing. I mocked it every chance I got and it still bloomed!
As usual, there’s a lesson or five in here for me.
- Beautiful things can have very humble beginnings.
- Even when it looks like nothing is happening—SO MUCH is happening behind scenes.
- A watched flower never blooms. In other words, look away and let the magic happen.
- Do NOTHING more often. Trust the process.
- My mother is the Yoda of badass gift givers and if I ever forget that, I’ll need y’all to remind me.
- Mother Nature’s naturey game is strong!
Carry on,
Xox
