"You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.” - Amy Bloom
Meet "Sea Legs". She is the young sea grape tree featured in
THE TWELVE GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN: LIFE LESSONS FOR PEACE AND WELL-BEING. I nicknamed her "Sea Legs" due to how her unusual split trunk resembled two scrawny, mottled legs with knobby
knees.
Whenever I walked through the Sanibel garden that inspired the book, the sight of "Sea Legs" standing by a fence always stirred something in me - a smile,
a chuckle, compassion, a guiding lesson - something I valued and wanted to share.
In my imagination she sometimes looked as if she was a teenager, trying to stay balanced in high heels and in the changes of growing up. Sometimes, in my
mind's eye, she was an elder.
Always, I thought of how she resembles us, with flaws and imperfections as well as beauty, no matter our age and the life stage we are growing
through.
She's a touchstone for accepting and appreciating our authentic selves - flawed, yet beautiful.
With love, reverence, and joy,
Charlene
PS - Sea Grape trees are hardy and adaptable. Like everything in nature, I saw beauty, wisdom, and life guiding lessons in them. Hear about some of those
lessons and learn more about this award-winning book here. Purchase here. Wishing you the best of life's gifts today and every
day!
THE NINTH GIFT IS REVERENCE.
May you appreciate
the wonder that you
are
and the miracle of all creation.
- from The Twelve Gifts of Birth
