Life Lessons Bloom in Unusual Places!

As part of our recent (and ongoing) home renovation, we added a small arbor on the back of our house. The vision was to eventually have a cooler (OK, we’re in Texas……not as HOT!) outdoor living space shaded by beautiful flowering vines.

Of course, as with any vision, you have to start somewhere. So for us, it began with the building of the wood frame. Then we planted two climbing vines in opposite corners of the wood arbor with the hope that eventually they would grow and thrive and meet in the middle to cover the entire area.

A couple of weeks ago we were delighted to notice that one of the plants was doing really well. In fact, it had climbed up its post and was nearly touching the top of the structure. But the other vine wasn’t faring as well. Although it was still green and growing, it was noticeably smaller than its partner.

So we decided to experiment. We moved the pot with the smaller plant to a different post – only about 7 feet away and gave it a new type of trellis to support it.

Same plant. Same pot. Same care otherwise.

And in only a few days, it had grown noticeably taller. It clearly liked its new situation. And I believe the plant even thanked us for the change by giving us the most beautiful purple bloom! (The other vine doesn't even have a flower yet!)

Tiny change. A little extra support. Just the right mix of factors. Major difference.

Aren’t our lives like that too?

Richard Bolles, the author of “What Color Is Your Parachute?,” uses a creative self-assessment exercise called “The Flower Exercise” to point out how each of us requires a unique blend of activities, people and environments to thrive and bloom.

Balance Austin co-blogger, Allison Allen (www.womenbloom.com) and I are in the middle of facilitating a midlife reinvention workshop. We’re having so much fun working with this group of brilliant, amazing women and using “The Flower Exercise” as the foundation to help identify what their unique blooming conditions might be.

Can't wait to share the lesson from the flower in my own backyard that whether blooming in midlife....or at any age....a minor tweak can make a major difference.

Sue Cullen, M.A., founder of Sue Cullen & Associates in Austin (www.suecullen.com) inspires and empowers individuals and teams to reach their full potential through career, leadership and team development and life/work balance coaching. She also offers Every Step Matters (TM) workshops and retreats to help women find meaning, joy and value in every step of life.