"This Too Shall Pass"

[jesse_the_k]

Yesterday stank. Lot of pain and much brain weasels. Passed the time clicking through channels, scrolling through screens, and generally not getting Shit Done.

Felt better today and realized that one of the worst parts of yesterday was my conviction that "this was the new normal," that things would never improve.

Then BOOM! an insight:

Being sure that there is no chance of improvement isn’t a response to a shitty day: it’s a symptom of a shitty day.

In conclusion: lilies are blooming.

six stamens cast six shadows on six fire engine red petals

one stem, one full bloom, one furled & ready for this afternoon, four for later this week

Comments

[isis]

Oh, pretty!

Hey, a little favor - do you still have the letter I sent with the tea? I'm trying to remember the name I gave to the no-caffeine one.

[jesse_the_k]

You brilliantly named it “no comment” — I just finished it last week and was hoping you’d share the recipe because it was great!

[isis]

AHAHAHA right, because it was like Constant Comment but no caffeine! I will post the recipes, I know yhlee wanted them too, I just hadn't gotten to it.

(I didn't have it titled in my working notebook of tea recipes because it started as "ginger boi" because it was ginger and rooibos, and then I took out the ginger and added other things and forgot to mark the name down. But I have all the proportions!)

[jesse_the_k]

Hooray!

[sonia]

Sorry to hear you had a shitty day yesterday, and glad to hear today is better.

Just a couple of days ago I had the new thought that maybe this isn't going to last forever, and things will get better again. Before that my thoughts were more like, "Settle in for the long haul," which is not necessarily wrong either...

[jesse_the_k]

I remind myself at least daily that trying to predict this future isn’t helping me at all.

Hope for the best, plan for myself and my pod.

[yourlibrarian]

Beautiful lillies! And quite true about your conclusion.

[jesse_the_k]

<3

[radiantfracture]

Excellent insight. A+.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks — I was proud.

[sasha_feather]

Great photos!

<3

[jesse_the_k]

<3

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Did the red one have smooth or hairy buds?

I've had orange and now white lilies blooming, and just started with Cappuccino.

My flower jargon game is highly basic

[jesse_the_k]

The little puffs at the end of the stamens are not smooth — when I touch them I get red dust all over my fingers. (I bet that’s pollen.) The tiny buds on the stems (won’t open for days or weeks) are smooth.

Re: My flower jargon game is highly basic

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Yep, that's pollen. It will stain cloth permanently and it's toxic to cats so it's important to wash up well. (Lily pollen is why florists nip the stamens off them in arrangements.)

Re: My flower jargon game is highly basic

[jesse_the_k]

Ahhhh! I wondered about why the florists were castrating such attractive structures. What’s the difference between hairy and smooth buds?

Re: My flower jargon game is highly basic

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

It's just a quirk some of the Asiatic lilies have, to have furry buds (Lilies bred from various species on the continent are Asiatic; there are also Oriental lilies and they're ones from Japan. They have scents.)

[cynthia1960]

You nailed it.

[jesse_the_k]

Boom! I need a sledgehammer icon.

[cynthia1960]

This is my only sledgehammer wielding icon.

[jesse_the_k]

...and it's perfect!

[magnetic_pole]

The lilies are beautiful; thank you.

Being sure that there is no chance of improvement isn’t a response to a shitty day: it’s a symptom of a shitty day.

And thank you for this, too. I needed to hear that today. M.

[jesse_the_k]

So happy to share.

[esteefee]

that is truly good insight. I'm going to carry that, thanks.

[jesse_the_k]

Sometimes brains work okay!

[luzula]

I hope today is better! *offers hugs*

[jesse_the_k]

It was, tyvm. Now that I’m bubble wrapped, I’ll gladly accept your offfer.

[mific]

Gorgeous lilies, and I'm glad you figured out the weasels a bit. :)

[jesse_the_k]

Weasel wrassling and admiring MyGuy's constant gardening make for a good day on the planet.

[susanreads]

That's a great and useful insight.

Ooh, lilies.

[jesse_the_k]

Lilies are also an exemplar in that, once planted, they do their lovely thing for years.

[peachpai]

I think that's a really wise insight. The only thing that we really know for sure is that things change! That includes for the better. :)

[jesse_the_k]

Strangers things have happened, why not improvement?

[pauraque]

This is a good insight! Thanks for sharing that.

[jesse_the_k]

May your day have a lily or too.

[tarasacon]

Much sympathy for pain and brain weasels! I am glad you were able to transition toward lilies!

note to self: Upload bunny photos next time I have decent wifi!

[jesse_the_k]

Looks forward to bunny photos.