We’re currently experiencing what is called a Blitz Summer in Berlin, and as the name implies, it will be short-lived. After all the wind, rain and hail last week, with even a dash of snow for good measure, today’s cloudless blue skies and 29C are more than welcome. We hit 26C yesterday but with the light prevailing winds it felt chiller than that. Hey, as along as it was sunny and dry, I’ll take it. We seem to have skipped Spring altogether this year, went straight to summer which will last a grand total of three days, and then back to goodness knows what but something that involves a lot of rain. So today I put on a summer dress for the first time in ages, and it felt great to trade in the sweaters and socks!
I spent the better part of the day gardening, getting my hands dirty and reconnecting with Mother Earth. It was the perfect day to propagate several plants so that by the time July rolls around I will have a nice jungle feel. This year my little balcony is themed Floral Fancy, and I went with carnations and daisies. I’ve always had a soft spot for carnations ever since my Middle School days, but daisies have deeper family history. Daddy proposed to Mommy while watching “Please Don’t Eat The Daisies“, asking her if she could imagine a lifetime of planting daisies together. Ironically, it took several years before they could actually have daisies in their garden, which was in Kenya and later on in Mexico.
The simplicity and cheerfulness of the daisy always brought a smile to Mommy’s face and her eyes always lit up when she received them. This is something not too many people knew, so she was always flooded with roses and orchids. Those who didn’t know the significance of the daisy to my parents may have easily mistaken Daddy for being a cheapskate. I had to smile when I ran into daisies again later on in Germany. My mother-in-law had them in her garden, and when my parents visited one year, the first thing Daddy noticed were the daisies, before he discovered the majestic rose vine nearby.
Anyone else out there a fan of the movie “You’ve Got Mail”? Remember the scene when Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) is sick with a bad cold and Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks) brings her a bunch of daisies? Her lines “I love daisies… They’re so friendly. Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?” stuck with me and I totally agree.
There has been a lot of talk about mental health lately, particularly in relation to lockdown, social distancing and home office. Some countries are coming up to the 18-month mark of home office and the psychotherapists will tell you that they are all fully booked to unprecedented levels. Quite frankly I’m glad I was still in therapy during the pandemic and it helps me cope with so many related issues. One of the great takeaways from this experience is to always dress up every day as if you are truly going to the office, not just half dressed for a zoom call. At first I found this strange, but once I went through the motions of doing my hair every morning and putting on my make-up and accessories, I saw the value of it. When I looked into the mirror I didn’t just see a worn out sloppy person at home disgruntled at the world, but a confident professional ready to take on the challenges of the day. OK, I’ll admit I didn’t go all the way, and chose not to wear my outdoor shoes, but I will admit to being tempted to wearing pumps!
We all talk about “the new normal” these days and for me that means meditation, prayer, dressing up, hair and make-up, and even perfume before I sit down at the computer. Yes, perfume. We all need a bit of aromatherapy to perk up in the mornings and sometimes a whiff of your favourite perfume/ cologne works much better than coffee! I love wearing jewellery and staying at home is no reason to keep my favourite earrings or rings hidden in the the drawer until the day comes when we can move freely again. Who know when that day will come, so carpe diem people, carpe diem!!!
If you noticed, the video I shared is a new and improved version of something I uploaded earlier. Not only did I find it suiting to the daisy story, but in staying with the decluttering and gardening themes, I have to say that turning my home into an urban indoor jungle has become more important than ever before. My home is my safe haven, my emotional and spiritual oasis, and plants are a vital component of this concept. As I look out onto the balcony from my desk, seeing the cheerful flowers smiling up at the sun, and glance around the conservatory and apartment where there is a plant in every little nook and cranny, I am happy with what I have accomplished this year.
FrogDiva Thoughts 