Starting fresh

A few years ago a nice boy I was dating gave me a beautiful orchid plant. I love orchids so this made me very happy. Unfortunately, I didn't love the boy quite as much as I loved the orchid and things didn't work out (don't worry, he is happily married now and we are still friends).

Well not long after that, the blossoms fell of my orchid, as they do on an orchid's normal growth cycle. But no flowers ever grew back! Even a year later, nothing.

Around that time, my roommate started dating Captain Amazing and he gave her a huge, beautiful orchid plant full of gorgeous, colorful blossoms. When I was griping about my stagnant plant one day she said, "Don't worry Amy, some day your orchid will bloom." And suddenly the orchid became a metaphor for my love life.

When I left Florida, my orchid plant was put in the care of a friend, handed off a few times and eventually was more or less forgotten out on the patio (kind of similar to how my heart was treated over the past couple years). And that is where I rescued it from during my Christmas visit.

By then my poor little orchid was down to one tiny green leaf and a couple root shoots. It was so sad but still alive so I determined to take it home with me and bring it back to it's full glory. Well the plane ride was a little rough on my orchid, and after a few sad days at home, I decided it was time to put it out of its misery.

And suddenly the symbolism of my little orchid plant came back to me. It really was time to let go of this orchid and all the emotional scars that went with it. Here was this beat up little plant, full of so many sordid memories, neglected and forgotten by so many, and yet I was trying to keep the poor thing alive. Instead of waiting for an old, dead love to bloom, I needed to find a new one. So I finally let it all go.

A few days ago I bought myself a new orchid. It is bright yellow-green with splashes of vibrant purple. It is healthy, beautiful and full of life! This new plant is a symbol for a fresh, hopeful start to my life in love and relationships. And the best part is that I made that mental, emotional, and symbolic change entirely of my own accord.

I love my new orchid and all the possibilities it represents. I feel energized and refreshed and full of hope! I know that someday soon my life will bloom just like my orchid and someone will see the unique beauty in me. And on Valentine's day, that is exactly what a fabulous single gal should feel :)