The Poppy

The final story for Mental Health Awareness week, and a hint at the theme for next week’s posts, is called The Poppy – because we all have mental health.

The Poppy

12 months ago, his father had released his seeds into the field. The wind had picked up many of them and scattered them across the expansive green field. Some had been eaten by the birds and others by the sheep and cows the farmer had allowed to graze on the long grass. Other seeds had managed to travel further afield, some landing on the tarmac of the local roads and others caught up in the river as it made its way to the sea.

This seed hadn’t traveled far. Only a few metres from where his father had stood very proud with his face to the sun, allowing its rays to warm him. Initially, the minute seed lay on top of the ground caught between some blades of grass and a small stone. Then one day the farmer ploughed the field and the seed was in darkness. The seed was surrounded and hemmed in by dark earth. For many months the seed remained inert as the ground became cold and frozen. It felt like a lifetime of just doing nothing. A few other seeds got bored and tried to put their heads above ground. But it was too cold, and they never flourished.

Finally, the ground started to warm, and the seed knew the time of waiting had ended. It was time for his germination to begin. First, he sent out a single root to access the nutrition from the soil. Then other roots were sent out from this first one until, finally, he had numerous fine roots gathering the resources he needed to grow. As these nutrients worked on his body, he sent up a stem through the earth until it found sunlight. The seed then had access to everything he needed: soil, water and sunlight. He just allowed these three to support his body to thrive. More roots, a stronger stem, leaves, and finally a bud that held the promise of surprise for later in the year. The seed was no more, and a plant had been born.

The plant continued to take the nutrients from the sun and the soil and continued to grow.  Looking around him he could see other plants growing just like him.  Each unique in some way from the others.  Finally, on one very hot day the plant knew it was time for his opening.  He allowed each of his 6 petals to open revealing the stamens to the sky.  It was in that moment that he knew that all the time in the soil, all the time bringing in the nutrients, all the time patiently waiting meant that today was possible at all.  He thought of the many seeds and younger plants who had not been as patient and who had failed along the way.  He was very pleased he’d waited because this was his finest hour.  In a few week’s time he looked forward to following in his father’s footsteps and sending his seeds out in to the world and continuing the good work he, his father and his father before him had done.

Alison Smith

Landscaping Your Life

Previous stories shared this week have included; The Right Path, The Wave, The Stone, The Caterpillar, and The Celebration of Adulthood.  

My first Landscaping Your Life book, Can't see the wood for the trees, has been described by one reader on Amazon as "first aid kit for the brain". To find out more about the book see this post- you can buy it from all online stockists all listed here.