One of the things I like about traveling is the diversity. In rural America where I live we kinda all look alike and quite honestly, unless I bring plants from outside the area, most of the flowers are predictable. In Mexico, I found this gorgeous flower that I assumed was another variety of hibiscus. I still think it is, but I don’t speak Spanish and a gardener and I had a difficult conversation trying to ID the plant.

Then I thought, “It doesn’t really matter the name of the flower. I can like it because it is different.” Different is great just because it is different. And diversity is great just because it is diverse. I have an orange hibiscus in my living room. It is in the leaf dropping stage right now, but it is blooming along. This yellow one in Mexico made me think about mine and appreciate it. Diversity is not something to be afraid of but a celebration of all gifts.

When you are out and about this week, look for diversity. Look for diversity in food in the grocery store, cars in the parking lot, people on the bus, plants in yards and so on. Just keep celebrating diversity all week. Celebrating does NOT mean you like something else better or are being disloyal. Celebrating diversity is just acknowledging differences and being glad to be in a place where differences are okay.

Have some fun and celebrate diversity this week

I love waves. They crash and I feel my heart flutter with anxiety about how high they will crest or if the water will come up enough to soak my feet. When the water safely recedes, I calm down expecting that again the waves will come and bring uncertainty. Waves have a rhythm so I know they will alternately excite me and challenge me. Something unseen is pushing the waves and I love the anticipation of what will come.

I wonder why it is that family waves are less exciting. As a young Mom with two little girls and a husband that traveled, waves came looking like laundry baskets full of dirty clothes to wash, too tired kids who couldn’t settle down for bed, bills we barely paid, meals to prepare when I wasn’t hungry and car repairs. Waves now look more like health issues, decisions about retirement, business decisions, travel decisions and how much is too much gardening. These waves of daily existence don’t seem to bring the same anticipation even though, they too are pushed by the unseen.

Possibly, it is the diversity of the many possibilities that daily life waves bring. Life can be creative. Just when you think you have down the best way to decide ahead of time about an ER trip with kids, you are hit with a new wave. And you didn’t see it coming!!!!

When I watch waves, I like to take a deep breath and hold it until the wave crests. Then I breath out the anxiety rides the wave back out to sea. Try using deep breathing when waves hit you in your family. Breath in the “unseen” and breath out to face the next wave.

Remember the unseen is a greater part of life than the seen.

Blessings on your day.