Dandelion Adventure

appreciate the simple pleasures in life

Driving home from work I passed a property covered in dandelion’s. It reminded me of being a kid and I was instantly nostalgic. The magic of blowing hundreds of little white helicopters (angel wings, fairies, dream catchers…) into the sky is an activity that shouldn’t be outgrown, yet it’s been years since I indulged in this simple pleasure. I told myself I’d return for a “project life” photo.

My photo outing became a truly special adventure with my 4.5 year old. It also served as a reminder that I should spend more one-on-one time with each of my kids, after Miles told me “this is the best day of my life”.

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As we walked down the street, Miles asked dozens of questions about dandelion’s and why I wanted to take pictures of them. Once we arrived his enthusiasm was so sweet! I took a few pictures of the expanse of beautiful weeds, and then I showed Miles the wonder of blowing on dandelion’s. Documenting this fun event made me so thankful for my skills with a camera, and also for turning something that could have been insignificant into an event I hope to remember for the rest of my life.

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I’m a joy seeker, and believe happiness comes naturally when the simple pleasures in life are appreciated.

This wasn’t always my way-of-thinking. I used responsibility and busyness as an excuse and distraction, and did everything in my power to make my life look happy on the outside (clean house, dinner parties, well dressed children, fun family vacations), while internally I was very unhappy. I was always looking for the next “high” and disappointed when everything fell short of my expectations.

When the source of my unhappiness moved out of my house, I was left to face what remained. . . a version of myself I wasn’t pleased to know. The hurt had changed me. I lived in a state of brokenness that behaved with impatience, judgment, and selfishness. Thankfully, I’m fiercely honest with myself, and had an incredible desire to change – to create a peaceful life and happy home.

My healing journey was purposeful: daily gratitude, prayer, honesty and transparency with family & friends (instead of pretending I was okay), and self forgiveness. I was holding onto guilt and regret in paralyzing ways. It’s been a year since I started transforming myself from the inside-out, and my life is completely different! A healthy heart, mind, spirit, and attitude translates into overall positivity and appreciation, healthier eating, weight loss, goal setting, and a general sense of peace, love and hope.

My life was blessed beyond measure by utterly falling apart.