I have a “champa” bonsai plant on my balcony. Its flowers used to bloom right near my door, and whenever I passed by, it made me feel welcome. That spot has become my favourite calming place. Today, I felt like taking a picture of it. However, I noticed that some flowers had withered while others were fresh, all on the same branch. The faded ones represented experiences from the past, while the fresh blooms symbolized hope for the future.

For a moment, I considered plucking the withered flowers to capture only the beauty of the fresh ones in my photo. Then it struck me: isn’t this similar to life itself? Our lives are woven with both good and bad experiences, and they remain etched in our memories, whether we choose to recall them or not. Just like those flowers, we can’t erase our past. We have to accept it, live with it, and find joy in life despite its challenge.

The beauty of nature lies in its ability to live fully in the present moment. Today’s celebration doesn’t affect tomorrow’s disappointment, and tomorrow’s hope doesn’t diminish yesterday’s despair. This cycle is an inherent part of life.

Aanal modi