queen annes laceA friend of mine was stuck in traffic one day when he just happened to look over to the side of the road and see a flowering plant (some may call it a weed – but we’ll get into that in a moment).  This flowering plant was stuck in the bottom of the ditch and was stretching as tall as it could to get to the top of the ditch so it could be seen.  It was sad to think that no one could see its beauty, could enjoy its colorful flowers – so it stretched and grew and expanded it’s limbs as high as it could until just the tippy-top was visible from a car on the side of the road.

Imagine how hard it worked, how long it may have taken for it to reach that point, how many obstacles it may have had to over come to get here. We’ve all had to grow, to stretch our minds, our abilities, make our way over and around obstacles to get to where we are at.  Some of us may still be working our best to be seen and might not have made it yet.

Either way, all I can really say, is first, pay attention. See what is trying so desperately to be seen and be happy for it (or them).

Secondly, don’t call it a weed.  Just because it wasn’t supposed to be there doesn’t mean it should not be there. Not all actors are born in Hollywood, just because they aren’t from there doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to be there.

Now, I’m not against weed killer – don’t get me wrong – this is an analogy.  I personally can’t stand the weeds that have the thorns and stickers and choke out the good plants or leave their remnants in my dogs fur for me to cut out, but I do love the “weeds” that produce flowers and bring beauty into the world.

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I’ll leave you with one thought to ponder. I worked at a flower shop in New Braunfels for a while and learned that instead of baby’s breath (those little white flowers) to use as filler for a dozen red roses, they used something called Queen Anne’s Lace.  It is a gorgeous white lacy looking flower that really fills in a dozen roses nicely.  Do you know where it comes from? Well I’ve seen it growing in ditches along the corn fields of Ohio – they call it a weed.  Us Texans pay good money for their weed to make our flower arrangements pretty.  Just like someone may pay good money to read your book or give you a chance at the job you want.

The fact of the matter is, you need to reach for it!
…if you plan on being seen.

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