President and Michelle Obama often talk about how they start their conversations at the dinner table with their girls – Roses and Thorns. They each talk about the roses and thorns of their day, the good and the bad. For the past few days I’ve been thinking about this idea, and started using my little black book to record these experiences.
Over the past few days, this practice is helping me to find the bright spots and celebrate all of the smalls wins, even on days when it feels like I’m finding mostly thorns. When I look closely, I am amazed by how the universe will guide us down one path rather than another with the use of roses and thorns. The thorns are keeping me from getting complacent, constantly encouraging me to stretch my wings, and fly to new experiences and opportunities. They are protecting me from losing sight of my dreams. The roses point the way to my best future.
I’m a firm believer in the idea that nothing is as good as it seems or as bad as it seems. That balance, that ying and yang, in every day keeps our feet on the ground and our eyes on the stars. Roses and thorns is about reminding ourselves of the positive circumstances that are all around us (even on days that don’t seem so bright), while also showing us that there are always ways for us to improve ourselves and our circumstances. Who knew we could learn so much from a flower? Another example of biomimicry at work in the highest order.
Christa Avampato 