“I have never noticed this plant before.” I mentioned to my colleagues.
There it stood a lonely potted plant growing interestingly, set against the classroom wall. The ends of It’s branches scattered daintily with bright orange flowers possessing layered petals that don a yellow interior. The flowers looked as if they would fall at the appearance of a heavy wind. This was an interesting plant even though the tired green leaves, drooped under the rays of the sun, the flowers glowed interestingly.
We walked along the pavement, leading from one campus to another continuing straight down beside a set of single story buildings. We took this same route weekly. Trudging down a few stairs which would take us to the compound where the very young students ‘live’.
This week however, it struck me that I had never noticed this particular bush. Could it be because we were always rushing to get to our sacred meeting on time? Or were we always deep in thought when we were passing beside it? We never even noticed it standing there. Could the flowers have just bloomed, calling for admirers? We were able to shout, ‘Here We Are!’ Like an exquisitely dressed model on the catwalk the plant swayed gently. We stood for a few minutes, the audience at the show and stared. We would have clapped if we were there long enough to admire the prolonged beauty of this lonely plant, it brightened the spot, where it stood.
Like a beautiful ornament it adorned the exterior of this building, the image was endearing, a photograph had to be taken in haste. Taken because maybe next week the delicate orange flowers would have torn off, leaving a boring, lonely green plant in it’s concrete painted pot.
GIFTS 
I’m so glad you included the photo. Your writing style has a haunting quality to it, particularly in the last sentence.
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Sometimes we just miss stuff. So glad you saw the pot and beautiful flowers, like your description of them, orange and green are complementary colours, so always look great!
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What a reminder to pay attention to the quiet messages of the world around us – and to enjoy the beauty if offers.
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Your language describing this beautiful plant is so descriptive and rich. Love this line: “We stood for a few minutes, the audience at the show and stared.” Positioning the flowers as performers… so great! Thank you for sharing this!
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Sometimes we just don’t see what is right before our eyes. Great description of the plant. Great use of similes – “Like an exquisitely dressed model on the catwalk the plant swayed gently”
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This challenge forces us to notice, observe and be more present. Thanks for sharing.
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I love how you took the time to stop, slow down, and take in the simple things around you. Just by noticing the beauty around you, it changed your perspective, and ours as the readers, too. As always, your use of language is captivating. I’m always excited to see what “slice” you have to share!
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Beautiful slice. Your pondering is something that happens to all fo us sometimes: was something always there and I just noticed it for the first time when I slowed down or did the thing just appear suddenly. Here’s to slowing time and noticing!
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As I read your post… I thought of the people we pass by daily, the students in our classes. They are like that potted plant and if we don’t pause to notice we miss the moments when they bloom… Thank you for reminding me to take time to appreciate the blossoms.
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I feel like this is a children’s book waiting to be written about mindfulness and being present or maybe a short film.
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Wow, what a great way to capture this moment. So glad we took a moment to pause and be mindful together, and now thanks to your writing I get to remember this beautiful plant too!
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