05/21/2026
Dear Friends, As I head out for a few days of rest and relaxation, I hope you find this reflection from May 2024 meaningful and that it opens your eyes even more to the wonder around us.
In all of our encounters with life, whether relationships with people and/or the natural world, there is always great value in seeing beyond what we initially notice. Take the dandelion, for instance. Now, I know it represents different things to folks. Some would be happy if they didn’t have another dandelion in their yard. There are those who love the beautiful yellow it paints the landscape at this time of year. Still, others know that dandelion root and leaves, harvested at just the right time and in the right location, are edible and have medicinal qualities about them. I still remember my mother sending me out in the yard to pick dandelion greens to add to our salad for dinner. When the fear of COVID hit in the spring of 2020 and heading out to the grocery store felt like entering a danger zone, I harvested the dandelion leaves to sauté. I can’t say they are my favorite side dish, but their nutritional value has an ancient history.
This is not a criticism of anyone who considers the dandelion to be a noxious w**d. After all, a w**d is merely a plant that is growing where you don’t want it. If you would rather not have dandelions splashing their yellow hue across your lawn, it is a matter of choice and the freedom to make it. I have my own relationship with other plants I would call “w**ds” growing where I don’t desire. I also know that there are valuable discussions to be had for considering the relationship our nonhuman friends, like birds and snakes, for instance, have with the insects that rely on plants and flowers for food and their lifecycle. That is a conversation for another time. I would, however, invite you to step closer for just a moment the next time you see a dandelion or a woodchuck a little too close to your garden or a snake that slithered across your path startling you or a person who just might rub you the wrong way. Take a good long look to notice more than what you think you see.
Our life experience often finds us looking at everything around us with a filter that has been established overtime that may or may not be a helpful and healthy way to truly know the world and build a perspective that, not only comes from a place of gratitude, but a posture of acceptance and love.
I’m not saying you have to love the dandelion, but perhaps you might just take a closer look the next time you see one. It is quite beautifully made. Likewise, you don’t have to invite the person who rubs you the wrong way over for dinner, but perhaps you might choose to see them for more than what simply meets your eye. Welcome the wonder that lies beyond perception and you will witness a breath-taking world of peaceful beauty. But be prepared – it is bound to change you from the inside out!
Journey blessings,
Doretta
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