Plants in the North hold an incredible courage; ones of the South don’t.
Every spring season they peek their small buds out as the sun shines his presence brighter and warmer each day.
They grow in the warmth and love. Always aware, the end’s coming.
For a short season the sun shares his love with them and when the world spins the sun spends less time with them.
When the cold and dark comes they wither and fall to the ground and die, taking up space as barren branches of nothing for what appears an eternal time of death and heartbreak.
I imagine they experience the cold this way, I’m not sure. Perhaps, they’re so gloriously alive for the short season ecstasy arrives when spring comes, and it’s their time to shine with the sun again.
Plants in the South don’t need this courage; the ones in the North need.
In the South the sun shines bright and brilliant on them day after day.
At times he can scorch them and be unbearable, but he’s always steady. Always showing up for them. They go through their own process of cloudy days, drought, and struggle, and yet, he never abandons them. They don’t need the courage to die and open back up again for another round.
My birthplace is in the North. And I still have always lusted for the South. I enjoy when the sun shines on me day in day out. A reliable source of light and warmth. Winters are difficult for me. I’m personally rejected by him as I slug through the blank, white space, freezing cold, craving love to shine on me again.
I’ve also started following him. A sun-chaser. A snowbird. A desirer of all the love I enjoy in the sun. I don’t want to be alone in the cold. I want to bask in the glory of the golden glow of love.
Today falls closer to summer than ever and the foliage is bright green. The blossoms are opening. I’m admiring the Northern plants and their courage.
Their courage to continue opening.
Season after Season. Always cracking into the present moment. Until the end.
They never decide to close up and refuse the sun’s love when the season is a short time.
Maybe I can be like a Northern plant again one day. For now I’m moving South.