FINDING THE SKY AT YOUR FEET: Lessons from a Puddle

Have you ever noticed how a rainy day can leave everything feeling a bit heavy? The ground gets muddy, the concrete stays cold, and we find ourselves avoiding puddles just to get where we’re going. But if you stop for a second and look down at those flooded spots on the sidewalk, something wonderful happens. You don’t just see a mess; you see the clouds, the trees, and the big, bright sky reflecting right back at you. 

It’s a gentle reminder that even when things feel "flooded," there is still so much light to be found. Here is how we can carry that calm with us:

1. Beauty Doesn't Need a Perfect Place

We often think we need a quiet, perfect lake to find peace. But a puddle on a muddy sidewalk can show you the sun just as well as the ocean can. Your life doesn’t have to be perfect for you to find a moment of grace. Sometimes, the most beautiful reflections happen right in the middle of the "muddy" parts of our day. 

2. Let the Storm Settle

When it’s pouring, the water is bubbly and blurred, and you can’t see a thing. But the minute the rain stops, the water settles and becomes a mirror. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember this: you don’t have to "fix" the storm. You just have to wait for it to pass. Once you catch your breath and find your stillness, the clarity you’re looking for will show up all on its own. 

3. Look Down to See Up

It’s a funny thing about puddles—they make us look at the ground, but they show us the heights of the sky. When life feels heavy and you feel like you can only look at your feet, take heart. The "low" moments are often where we see the most light. Those mud in the concrete? They are just frames for the beautiful reflection sitting inside them. 

A Note for Your Heart

Next time you see a reflection in a flooded street, let it be a little gift for your soul. It’s a sign that the sky is always there, even when it’s under your boots. You are resilient, you are deep, and just like that water, you have a way of turning a gray day into something bright.

So take a deep breath. Let the ripples go and the silt settle. You’re doing just fine, honey.

Hasta la vista, 

Apple Bleza-Morales

[The Greenhouse Heart]

Notes:

1. Earlier Publication: A micro-blog of this article was earlier published in my GREEN Craftivist Facebook page and re-posted here with some format revisions, additional photos and information to suit this blogsite. As mentioned, I will be sharing my reflections on life, travel and the little "greens" I find along the way under a new series called "The Greenhouse Heart" in both my FB page and this blog site.

2. Photo: These photos were personally taken by the author at the L'Umbracle - a unique garden at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

3. About the Author: Apple is passionately interested in community greening and beautification, organic and ornamental gardening, environment protection and preservation as well as related arts, crafts and culture. She shares her professional, personal and travel experiences to spread knowledge and information in these areas which may not be accessible to all who are similarly interested.  Apple aims to inspire others to develop and create new ideas from her blogs and to share life lessons on values for living. Before her retirement from the corporate setting, she held leadership roles in Human Resources developing and managing the implementation of HR and Organizational systems that help employees and employers achieve a mutually beneficial engagement. She can be contacted at greencraftivist@gmail.com