Have you ever felt left behind? As though everyone around you is in bloom and flourishing except you. The feeling of being behind is normal, with many of us feeling stuck or as though we are missing this socially constructed deadline. The truth is, there is no deadline, no race except the one we construct in our heads. Many of us fall victim to comparison, and in doing so, we end up robbing ourselves of the credit or belief that we are growing and progressing. We may look over at our peers and wonder why we are not where they are, or why we have not achieved what we sought out for ourselves years ago. It is important to note that many of us have struggles and obstacles that are invisible to even ourselves. Sometimes our journey is an uphill mountain with ill-fitting shoes, other times it is a journey that requires us to pause or detour, until we realize there is truly no rush, we will bloom when the time is right. I recently came across a short poem called an Ode to Late Bloomers. The poem celebrates those whose success and maturation bloom later in life, and reminds them that while they did not bloom at the same time as the other flowers, they bloomed when those flowers died, their bloom providing continued beauty and color in a sea of wilting or dried flowers.
Your success should not be measured by the parameters and rulers of those around you, while it may feel like the world is in bloom as you are still growing, know that your time will come, and when you are in full bloom, by going at your grace, you will have blessed others with the sight of growth and bloom.
I came across a comment on a video called “Does Music Matter Anymore”, the comment said, “A flower doesn’t worry about whether or not it matters, it simply blooms and it’s beautiful”. I leave you with that~ bloom and know that it will be beautiful whenever you do.
An ode to late bloomers
Whose bloom missed the light
Some flowers bloom early, while others delay into the night
No worries, no rush,
You’ll emerge from the hush.
Take your time, embrace your grace
To grow and to flourish at your own pace
So bloom boldly late bloomer in your own special way
For the growth that comes with you
Awakens each day
As the tapestry of life wants each shade and hue
The world will await the beauty within you.