Identities: A Colorful Experience

Growth. What a beautiful sunrise, my newly grown stalk allows me to view this beautiful forest, to immerse myself in the sun and relish the drops of rain and thunderstorms in the evening. I enjoy my birds that find shelter under my large branches that serenade me with melodic and electrifying music as they speak to one another. My favorite beautiful bird comes daily to find shelter with its gray body and bright yellow streak coursing its length. Scenes. All of these beautiful birds hard at work.

Here comes the sun.

My neighboring plants can no longer chide me for my small size as a mustard seed, they acknowledge my usefulness- they know I am here with them, like them, for them… and this glow, this warm radiance that helps me to create and thereby identify who I am, what I am… please continue to shine on me.

Hands grasping the newly printed workup, Charlotte paces in the hallway awaiting her instructions to enter and practice her new skills of interviewing. Grateful for her promotion as a consultant liaison for the main headquarters, she understands that to whom much is given much is expected. Excitement makes her heart skip a beat as she practices her speech before her interview. Hard work.. yes she agrees, it pays off. “Charlotte you’re up! Come on in.” Unknowingly she wheezes out whatever air was remaining, she smooths the length of her new dress, lifts her chin and walks right in.

As I feel my nutrients coursing the length of my stalk and branching into each and every extension, I enjoy the rhythm of life as my branches grow stronger. My leaves… my leaves however, I am noticing not only is growing but transforming. My inner being welcomes change but I feel foreign to what is happening to my chlorophyll.. why is it breaking down? Why is the rich green color of my leaves starting to disappear and why is it changing to yellow and orange and red?

“Charlotte, that was fantastic! You did a wonderful job practicing.” Charlotte has her pad and pen in hand, selfishly taking notes with happiness abound to no limits. Her nervousness is beginning to slowly disappear as she realizes the process involved in her future promotion and career. She listens intently.. “However, there is one thing I need to comment on Charlotte.” Charlotte lifts her gaze, looking at her senior associate waiting for his feedback and guidance along this process she is embarking on. “Your dress… the color, it is a little distracting.” Stunned, dazed.. and shocked, Charlotte looks around the room, her female associates who are working on their interviews as well, stare with mixed emotions painted vividly across their faces. The anger, the disbelief… the compassion… the support?.. Charlotte takes a slow breath. Her response fluid and graceful as the sun shining down on a crisp autumn day, highlighting the many feature’s of an ever-changing landscape…she responds “So what I believe I hear you saying is that….

Yellow, red, orange, and tints of brown, why are my leaves changing so drastically so soon… I turn to my neighboring plants, who once chided me for my small and inadequate size, and I notice the beauty in their transformation. I am not alone.. As the morning dew slides fluidly over one bright red leaf… the sun’s rays captures and illuminates and creates a sensual glow. I fall silent as I explore the renewed sources of my ray’s vitality and power. As I trust the process… as I trust the timing, as I realize I am not alone in this inevitable transformation… I look to my neighboring plant;

“there is a reason for every season.”

To be continued...