Wildflowers have always fascinated me. When I see them, my heart sings and I smile in wonder at their beauty and courage to grow in some of the most inhospitable places. Many years ago, I began taking pictures of ones I encountered when visiting different areas, admiring how there are so many varieties and knowing you can find them almost anywhere. Because of this, I have grown to recognize many of the ones I find along our local hiking and walking trails, and recently, I noticed a new one I didn’t remember seeing before. White, delicate star-shaped flowers sat atop a thin stem with long, blade-like leaves. The leaves reminded me of daffodil leaves or perhaps narcissus, and with these observations, I thought the plant had been placed along the trail by someone and not endemic to the area. I still enjoyed its beauty and took a quick picture, making a mental note of its location to point it out to my granddaughter on our next walk that way.

Much like noticing how many red cars are on the road once you purchase one, I encountered more of these wildflowers a few weeks later along another trail. So I questioned, is the plant perhaps native, and had I come to an incorrect assessment based on a lack of information? Had I again created in my mind a fact without basis? It is with these points of reference, these data points we see or know of, that we create our reality, and rightfully so. But, I often base a fact on a lack of information, seeing only what is before me and not recognizing there may be something missing or unseen. In this instance, after some research, I found my initial conclusion was in error.

With this realization, I wondered how often, like my experience with this flower, I have come to a judgment about someone. How often I have labeled someone with a description that truly doesn’t fit them and not bothered to find out more? I wondered how many people I have boxed into a definition with too little information and not allowed them to be who they are. My initial assessment is this is a habit I indulge in far too often. I recognize part of it is the nature of being human and how we process information, creating shortcuts in our thought processes to be more efficient in how we assess situations and people. Part of it, I also believe, is how we seek out that which confirms our initial belief, downplaying any information to the contrary as unimportant or incorrect and this has been reinforced by the algorithms that run our social media pages and our web browsers. However, part of it is not being aware, not being conscious and present, and not recognizing in the moment the lack of information.

The challenge now is to recognize those moments when I make a judgment with little to no data and acknowledge that it may be faulty. To recognize it is only a premise that may be changed as I gather additional information. To embrace the fact I always have something else to learn about the things I see and people I interact with, similar to my experience with the wildflower. And truly, did it matter if it was native to our region? For me, the answer is no; just being able to enjoy its beauty was the greater importance.

Wishing you, dear friend, much awareness of the present moment and the ability to enjoy it for what it is without judgment but with the curiosity to learn more. ~♥~

Your perspective is always limited by how much you know. Expand your knowledge and you will transform your mind.

~Bruce H. Lipton~