Over the Hill on the Yellow Brick Road, in early May, I saw a lilac growing beside a tree. Lilacs are my favorite flower ever! I cherish the time they’re here! So I rushed over to it. But I noticed the lilac looked confused and distraught. I asked:
Hey lilac, what’s the matter?
LILAC: I can’t tell you.
Oh. Okay.
LILAC: It’s too upsetting.
Alright. I won’t ask.
LILAC: It has to do with my age.
Believe it or not, I’ll understand. What’s bothering you?
LILAC: I can’t tell you.
But you just started to.
LILAC: Forget I said it.
Okay. Fine.
LILAC: The tree next to me just told me I’ll only be in the world for about two weeks. But I just got here. I’m young and getting old at the same time. I’m a freak.
Well, for what it’s worth, I’m young and getting old at the same time, too.
LILAC: Really? I think you just look older.
Oh thank you.
LILAC: I didn’t mean to insult you. I was just being honest.
What I was trying to say was, I’m older on the outside but young on the inside. Young at heart.
LILAC: Well then, you must be confused too.
Baffled.
LILAC: How do you deal with it? How do you stop yourself from obsessing with being older and young at the same time?
Well…I think every living creature is born with a gift. You know, some kind of outstanding talent that makes the world a better place. So, no matter how old I get, I focus on my gift and try to find new ways to use it.
LILAC: What’s your gift?
I believe it’s writing. The way I communicate. And I hope somehow, in my writing, just for a moment, I transform others. I hope I can suggest that others see the world a little bit differently through my words.
LILAC: That’s cool.
And people have all kinds of gifts. They make the world a better place through their art, music, photography, dance, recipes, families–
LILAC: I see where you’re going with this. But I’m just a flower. What’s my gift?
Your scent.
LILAC: Really? You mean, all I have to do is sit here and let people smell me?
Yes. And…you can carry on the lilac legacy—for all those lilacs who have been here before and those who will be here after you’re gone. When you’re no longer here, others will remember your graceful, elegant petals, stunning color and most remarkable scent. You will become part of them.
I’m so neurotic. What about people who aren’t near me now? They won’t be able to smell me.
Just the sight of you will inspire them. Like this amazing illustration of a lilac created by Lisa: https://lismorepaper.com/2018/05/06/lilac-botanical-print/
I never looked better.
And! People can close their eyes and remember a time they experienced a lilac’s scent.
How?
I’ll show you. Friends who are reading this post, when I count to three, close your eyes and imagine the scent of a lilac. One…two…three…
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Copyrightoverthehillontheyellowbrickroad2018
Sound philosophy and good link. By coincidence a lilac appears in my post I will send off a little later
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Can’t wait to see your lilac! What a gift!
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🙂
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I’m with you on the lilacs. Most beautiful perfume. I put some in a vase every spring. Wife thinks I am bringing bugs in. I love your sentiments about old and young and our gifts.
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So nice to know you’re a fellow “lilac freak.” LOL. And yes, the “old and young” thing is really weird, isn’t it?
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I think that throughout our lives we flower and spread our scent in various forms. Every age has something special to give to others. The secret is remembering to give. 🌹
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Beautiful point.
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Everyone has some hidden talent or something special about them.
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I totally and completely agree.
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Shine on you crazy lilac…lovely post…
Mike
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You really know how to talk to flowers! 🙂 🙂
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It’s in the blooming blood…
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Ha ha! Love it.
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I love lilacs like you! There scent is over the top. Thank you so much!
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It’s my great pleasure.
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I love lilacs and I remember them all year around. We have a bush by the back door. Memories are real.
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Ah! I’m jealous! I want a lilac bush around my house too. Next year!
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We have a miniature one, that grows in a smaller more rounded shape, just as fragrant as the tall lanky ones, also, if you have space limitations. It is blooming crazy right now!
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There’s nothing more beautiful than a blooming lilac bush. I’ll look for a mini version in my local gardening shop. Thanks for that tip. Made my day.
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So funny and on the mark 🙂
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Thank you soooo much.
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oOOH! You are so clever! That was lovely!
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I’m always so happy when you enjoy these little pieces of insanity. 🙂
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heybubb….yes, she is so clever. Aren’t we lucky to be related to her? And what about YOUR gifts?
I’m hoping to leave behind lots of quilts….art quilts, comfort quilts…..Bring on those grandchildren!
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Ha haaaa! By the way, I’ll take one of your quilts any day!
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Right on cue, I could smell a beautiful lilac scent. Thanks for sharing this!
Donna
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Yaaay for you for doing the lilac sniff. You’re my kind of person. 🙂
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I’m sniffin’ too – so gorgeous 🙂
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You go girl! Sniff away! 🙂
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🙂
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Right there with you! And looking up at my lilac tree out back, waiting for the buds to appear, and then–soon please!–the pale purple scent to drift down.
❤
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I don’t have my own lilac tree but there are lots of them in my neighborhood. It’s magical, isn’t it?
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Ahhhh, so sweet!
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Yup! There’s nothing like a lilac. I’m sniffing, too.
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Beautiful! I love to stop and smell the lilacs. Hopefully I leave behind good kitchen smells!
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You definitely send good kitchen smells through my screen. Whenever I read your recipes and look at your photos–I’m transformed.
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Awwww. Thank you so much ☺️
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When is your book coming out?
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Awwww. I’m so flattered that you asked about the book. It should become available in the next week or two. When it is, I will write about it in my blog. The book will make an appearance Over the Hill on the Yellow Brick Road. 🙂
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That is so exciting!!!
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It is so very hard to appreciate and accept your authentic self. Good post.
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And sometimes it’s even hard to find your authentic self, or it changes over time. We’re complicated. 🙂
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Writing is definitely your gift, Cathi. Lilacs aren’t out here yet but, thanks to you, I’m already picking up their scent.
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Yaaay! I’m glad the lilac scent transformed through the internet. LOL. I hope the real lilacs come your way very soon. They’re the best.
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I can relate to the lilac’s dilemma and yours, too, Cathi. I associate lilacs with graduations because everyone in my family had photos taken in front of my parent’s big lilac bush – all of us kids and then the grandkids. I love the smell of them as long as they are outside, but don’t tell your lilac friend. I sneeze and get all stuffed up when I have them in a vase inside. They are beautiful, though. Inside and out. -Molly
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No worries, I’ll never tell my lilac friend about your flower allergy. Your secret is safe with me. 🙂
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I LOVE lilacs! Sadly, my husband is allergic, so I can’t have one in my yard. But I still enjoy them whenever I can…
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I don’t have a lilac bush in my yard either. But there are many lilac bushes in my neighborhood, so taking a walk is an enchanting treat.
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Love Lilacs as well. Lucky to have one lilac tree in front of my house. It’s not blooming yet as spring just starting here. In a few weeks though I should be able to take beautiful pics of it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have scratch and sniff flower pictures? Nice post Cathi. xoxo
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Love the scratch and sniff flower picture idea. This could be the start of something big. 🙂
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Yes, imagine all the fun possibilities! Congrats on your book by the way. Huge achievement!
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Such a lovely conversation, Cathi, and one I can only too well relate to! LOL! I can´t believe I´m nearer to 40 than 30!! Totally drives me crazy since I still feel like 16 or mid-twenties. But to know that the Lilac has the same difficulties than we have is very comforting. 🙂 And I´m sniffing it too! Also can look at one beautiful tree right in the backyard!
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This really made me think how you could be old and young at the same time. For us humans, we can be physically old but mentally young at heart, and vice versa. Interesting, creative post!
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Yes, and speaking from experience, it definitely is hard to be old and young at the same time. I just got off a Facetime conversation, and my “old” face on the screen was pretty scary. 🙂
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Great conversation. You’re creative and it’s very inspiring. Thanks for such hardwork put into the post. “I’m young at heart!” This statement will keep everyone moving in life.
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Thank you so much. Since your posts are equally inspiring, the fact that you appreciate mine means a lot.
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You’re a great creative writer. Best wishes and more success!
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My mother is 90 but said that sometimes she’s to see an old person in the mirror. She says she feels about eighteen. I love your writing.
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I love your writing too. And I guess that young person inside us is there forever.
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Oh, I really like this one. It’s so true. My inside feels so much younger than my outside. We don’t have lilacs in Florida but I got to see them on a family vacation to Michigan in 2002. We were on Mackinac Island for the Lilac Festival. They were beautiful. If you see your lilac, tell her you know someone who remembers the lilacs she saw 16 years ago!
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Done! I passed your words on to my lilac. You made her day. Also–that Lilac Festival in Michigan sounds amazing. Maybe I’ll look into for a little trip next spring. 🙂
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You should! It is such a quaint place. You have to ferry over to the island. No cars – only horse & buggies and bicycles!
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This sounds awesome. I’m definitely looking into this!
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Well done – I’m smelling the lilacs and smiling at your words of wisdom! 🙂
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Thank you. Now that the lilac season is coming to an end, I’m looking for rainbows. They come and go even more quickly, but just as amazing.
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I’m going to share you on SIWO!
My gift, goal is to help spread positivity ‘round the world!
Ahhh the smell of the lilac!
Beautiful story!
❤️🌎❤️
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OH wow! Thank you sooooo much! And now….my ignorance is showing. What is your SIWO? I know, I’m pathetic. 🙂
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It’s the other blog I write for. Success Inspirers World!
Please do check it out! We are almost at 600k views!!
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
I’m also thinking of starting a page for Authors to
Introduce or promote their books!
Plus So much more! C’mon over!
❤️🌎❤️
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Yes! I just saw the other blog! I’m already a follower! And I’ll be on the lookout for your page about introducing authors and promoting their books! Great!!!!!!!!!
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BTW
you are NOT pathetic you just haven’t found us in your path yet! 😳… 😘😘
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Although…there’s a part of me that loves being pathetic anyway. LOL
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Ha ha
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Pingback: Reblog Inspiration – Success Inspirers' World
See the link? Saunter on by! Check out the Board of Directors you might recognize one! 😉😉
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Will do!
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We could use your upbeat inspiration!
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Awww. Thank you sooooo much. 🙂
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❤️🌎❤️
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