Magnolia Blossoms

Choose your Environment

​I took this beautiful magnolia blossom from its tree a couple of days ago. I placed it in a jar of water. The next day, it opened up; it’s beauty and fragrance filled my room. This brought me so much joy. I woke up the next morning, and it was completely withered and brown. Reluctantly, I placed it in the trash.
Moments later, I realized what I did - selfishly, I took something that was flourishing in its natural environment and placed it where I knew I could not provide the nutrition it needed (all for my own short term gain). I knew I could not invest the time nor energy that its tree provided which allowed it to become what it was the day I found it: beautiful, strong, healthy and vibrant. Instead, the environment I provided drained the life out of it and caused it to die. The magnolia had no choice. I clipped it, and it had no means of getting reattached to its tree.
We, however, have a choice. When circumstances place you in an environment that is unwilling to provide or invest what you need to grow, be the beautiful person you are, and flourish in doing so, remember what happened to my flower. Remove yourself. If it doesn’t bring you life, let it go. Walk away. Don’t allow it to clip you from your tree. And if you thought it was a better environment, leave as soon as you notice it isn’t. Don’t stay once you know it is sucking the life from you… the longer you wait, you might not be able to be reattached to your tree.

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A little less than three years ago, I bought a dog from a rescue shelter.  I knew that I could provide what she needed to blossom and grow.  I was willing to make the investment to provide what she needed. The handler said, "Ma'am, this dog is very challenging... If you are unable to manage her, then just bring her back. She requires a lot of patience." The lady handed me a card and Sunny (my dog) stood beside her shaking so confused.  At that moment, she did not have a home. Her current environment was not providing what she needed, and she heard the words of discouragement this lady was feeding to her new mother. Imagine what she was going through not knowing what the next day or moment will bring - not knowing if her new environment was going to bring happiness or pain.  That day I made the choice. I committed to the investment and sacrifice to provide a better environment for her. Today, that once difficult and scared 5-month old puppy who hid under my dining room table for two days  now runs my household. She has blossomed.  She is my heart and my best friend.  Again, she did not have a choice, but she was provided an environment of growth and love where she trusts that her owner mom will continue to provide the best for her. 
These two examples provide some valuable lessons.  I was the investor in both situations. For the magnolia flower, I knew I could not provide what it needed. For Sunny, I made the investment.  One thrived and one died.
Here's what you need to ask yourself before making a choice to change your environment:
1) Will that environment invest in you more or comparably to what you have invested in yourself?
2) Will you be in a place to grow and blossom?
3) Over time, will the environment sustain a healthy level of growth and development?
Remember, most of the time, it is your choice. Choose wisely and if you make the wrong choice, be willing to walk away!
Be Blessed!  ~ Hugs, Carla 

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