Perspective

As a kid, I loved to play with dandelions. Plucking the fuzzy domed stems from the earth, and blowing the wispy cotton tops was delightful. Watching the fragments float in the air was exhilarating. Fast forward many years later, I still adore playing with dandelions. They are a welcomed sight. But what is a dandelion? Is it a flower or a weed? Let’s look at two perspectives.

Dandelions are a member of the daisy family and bloom in varying shades of yellow. Generally, they bloom in the spring. The entire plant is edible including its roots. The leaves can be used to make a salad and the roots to make tea. Although bitter, dandelions are highly nutritious, rich in vitamins K and C.

Despite the benefits dandelions offer, some people consider them to be a weed. By definition, a weed is a plant that grows aggressively and can survive in diverse environments. A dandelion grows fast, is spread by wind and needs little to no water to survive. Hence, many people feel dandelions have no place in a garden. They tend to grow where they are not wanted, distracting from a garden’s beauty.

Now let’s look at another example of changing perspective.

Suppose you jump in your car on your way to a meeting, but the car fails to start. Immediately, you are upset or annoyed at the least, and you begin to lament over being late to the meeting and the domino effect it will have on your schedule. Instead of looking at the inconvenience the malfunction is causing, you think that perhaps there is a reason the car failed to start. Perhaps this is a sign that you are supposed to stay home. So, you postpone the meeting, or arrange for someone else to fill in for you. While at home, you use the opportunity finish a project or a chore, get some much-needed rest, or perform some other self-care ritual. Or, perhaps you receive an unexpected delivery, or you find that your pet unknowing fled because the gate was not secured properly. Nevertheless, the course of your day just turned from a potentially stressful string of events to one of positive outcomes—all because you changed your perspective.

When faced with an unpleasant situation, changing your perspective can be rewarding. A different point of view can reveal opportunities, discoveries or explanations. The course of your day can change drastically when you look at a situation from a different perspective.

So, is a dandelion a flower or a weed? Dandelions are both a flower and a weed, but your perspective determines whether or not they are beneficial to your garden. When engulfed in an unpleasant situation, change your perspective for a more rewarding outcome.

Go and grow,
Cris