The Simple Things in Life

The simple things in life are still free. I think they hold the most value. A smile, a hug, a warm sunny day, wild flowers… In a busy world that never seems to stop, I look to nature and find inspiration to slow down and enjoy this wonderful world. The other day on a walk I stopped to admire the flowers on the side of the road. Most of them were daisies.

While daisies are a common flower here in the U.S. they originated in Europe and other faraway places. The Shasta Daisies we see in ditches and fields are actually a hybrid created by a horticulturist in California over 100 years ago. Thank you, Luther Burbank.

I love daisies for their simple beauty and long life. Plus, I don’t have to grow them myself. While I enjoy being in the garden, the truth is I didn't inherit my family’s green thumb. My favorite plants are the ones that grow on their own.

The word daisy means “day’s eye.” They received that name because they are open during the daytime and closed at night. The center is like a bright, round sunshine surrounded by a bonnet of petals. While Shasta Daisies come in a variety of colors, the white petals are what we see outside, growing wild.

It is said that daisies have no negative meaning. All of the words and phrases associated with this flower are positive, uplifting, encouraging. While I love a wide variety of flowers, daisies have always been my favorite. I had them in my wedding, my children brought them to me as love-gifts on warm summer days, and I pick them and press them in a flower press my father-in-law made for me 20 years ago.

I think I love daisies so much because they represent a deep longing for what I want in life. Simplicity. Longevity. Happiness. Peace and purity. They are a cheery reminder to enjoy the beauty of all things living and remember the simple things in life are the best things in life.