For the first time in what seemed like weeks, I awoke to sun rays streaming through my bedroom window. It was Sunday, and although Sundays are work days for me, the sun’s brightness and warmth lifted my spirits. But soon enough I was busily preparing for my day. A while later, as I walked out our front door, I noted that the lawn needed mowing, that the weeds were taking over the entire yard, and that soon the dandelions would fill the air with their feathery seeds. I was not happy with how “tacky” our home appeared. Yet, I was also delighted by the sight of sunshine brilliantly illuminating a sea of fuzzy dandelions heads. I couldn’t resist shooting a few photos of the sight before rushing into my day.
As a Community In-Home Mental Health Therapist (counselor), I meet with my clients in their homes or other safe places in the community. An advantage of providing community mental health services is that I get to observe people in their own environment, usually when clients are less guarded and more open to counseling.
Sunday, As I sat with my client in the home from which she was about to be evicted, her four-year-old daughter ran into 
the living room to present her mother with a fistful of hand-picked dandelions. The child’s mother grinned from ear-t0-ear despite her tears and worries, and accepted the dandelion bouquet as if they were the most beautiful flowers on earth. . . and to that mother, they were. It was a small moment, and seemingly insignificant in light of the heavy burden the young mother bore as she tried to figure out how she was going to provide for her children. But such moments are the gems that imbue life with meaning and purpose, and simply help us keep things in perspective.
When I returned to my home later in the day, the yard with its crop of dandelions looked different to me. I remembered my first bouquets of flowers from my children, too; lovely, yellow-like-the-sun dandelions. Those bouquets are the most magnificent I ever received in my life. There is a lesson in this, I am sure. Maybe when we are experiencing “dandelion weeds” in life, it is just a matter of perspective. After all, dandelion “bouquets” are the most lovely of all.
Inspired Vision 
Cecelia, it’s good to hear from you again and get a glimpse into your role as a counselor. I love your “dandelions” essay.
Thanks Barbara. I hope to return to a regular blogging schedule now that life is finally easing into a more sane routine. It is good to see you here.
Dandelions–the gift that keeps on giving! Pretty dogwood in your header.
Haha! Yes, they do keep giving us pleasure, don’t they! Thanks for stopping by, pattisj. It is good to see you.
I’m glad to see you’re back to blogging. It looks like your job suits your skills and desire to help people.
Thanks for stopping by, Nancy. Yes, I hope to get back to a regular blogging schedule now that life is easing toward a semblance of normalcy and balance. I will be catching up with your blog soon. 🙂
I love dandelions…I loved this post, it is a point we should consider more often I think
Thanks for the comment, Jo. Another “angle” on this post is the memories of what fun dandelions were as a child. Running with a handful and watching the breeze scatter the “dandelion feathers” (as we called them). Again, it’s all a matter of perspective. 😉
I still go outside to pick them, make a wish and blow my wish in to the air.