Pushing Up, Part 2

Back on February 1 I posted about the emerging daffodils under the Weeping Cherry tree. At the time, they were tiny little shoots barely poking through the soil. I wondered in my post what storms loomed on the horizon, knowing winter’s clock still ticked loudly. I don’t consider myself prophetic by any means, but only a week later the Blizzard of 2013 unfolded. Thirty inches of snow fell and I felt sure the daffodils would be ruined, buried under so much snow.

Imagine my surprise and delight when the snow finally melted and I discovered that not only had the daffodils survived, but also that they were taller. They are a hardy bunch! As I studied them more closely I noticed buds forming on the stems. In a couple of weeks, maybe even less, they will bloom.

I knew when I wrote my first post Pushing Up that I wanted to come back to the daffodils as they grew taller. They are my encouragement to take one day at a time when life feels too full. The last two weeks have been busy ones—writing and publication deadlines, mid-semester comments and marks due, along with normal life obligations. The busier I become the more distracted, impatient, and task-oriented I become, giving less of myself to the ones I love.

Yesterday it rained buckets on Long Island, but my daffodils endured. Today the sun shone and the daffodils seemed to stand a little taller. Tonight the temperatures will turn cold and a breezy day is forecasted for tomorrow. Yet, I trust the daffodils will endure these elements too. One day at a time—one day at a time.