Last weekend I was originally going to drive up to Vermont (6+ hour drive from Philadelphia) to cross off the final state of my 30 before 30 goal. However in listening to my body, I realized what I really needed to do was to rest and to stay more local. I had a really difficult week the previous week and my soul just needed some refreshment. My motivation, my creativity, and my joy lately have just felt so stifled. So, in an effort to feel more refreshed and yet still Instead I decided to go to Dalton Farms in Swedesboro, New Jersey to go to the sunflower farms.
Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers. Yellow is already my favorite color, and everything about them is vibrant and bright. How can you possibly be in a low mood when you look at them? They are so beautiful. Sunflowers symbolize joy to me and beauty too. In doing a little bit of research about the sunflower I learned that they don’t just symbolize joy, they also symbolize looking to the sun, or the light, in order to grow.
If you go to a sunflower farm, the first thing you notice is that it seems like the sunflowers are literally reaching for the sun. They stand tall and they face the sun. This has an official name and it is heliotropism which literally means: “the directional growth of a plant in response to sunlight.” In other words, where the sun faces, the sunflower makes the intentional decision to face that way. This is of course on purpose so photosynthesis can occur and so the sunflower can grow.
When I was asking how to pick a sunflower at the farm, they said the best ones to pick are the ones who are just starting to bloom which in sunflowers basically means you are looking for one that is not completely “open” yet. However, with love and care and sunlight, the sunflower will of course bloom and turn into the gorgeous flower we know and love.
I think of my own life. The times when I have experienced the most internal growth have always been when I have been looking towards the light. It is when I have cut off all sources that take away from my joy or from my wellbeing. It is when I lean into people who love and care for me and when I intentionally spend time doing things I love. Similar to when you pick a sunflower and take it out of its normal environment, I think of how I took myself out of my “field” of life… my home in San Jose, my friends, my family, the hospital I was working at. It took a lot of love and care on the road and it still does to be honest. I have to make sure I am still leaning into those same sources of light from home. It takes intentional commitment to keep going and growing and finding the sunlight to face even when it is hard or I feel lonely.
After seeing the sunflowers (and taking 28947493 pictures of course š) I went to the lake that was also on the farm. I sat by the still water and watched people kayaking and felt a moment of peace for the first time all week.
I don’t know what things you are facing in your life, friend. What I do know is you should look to the sun. Realize the things that are stealing your joy and just cut them off. How much more joy would we have in our lives if we were intentional about cutting off the things that take away from it? I know I am not perfect in this area. I am still working on learning to even WANT the things that are good for me. But as long as I keep looking towards the light, I will work it out.
Happy Autumn everyone š
Seas & Statelines 