A flower’s beauty doesn’t fade just because you fail to notice it, nor does its fragrance disappear when taken for granted. It remains beautiful, delicate, graceful, magnificent, and radiant.

Mother Nature offers us priceless teachers—flowers that bloom despite their brief existence, stars that shine even when unnoticed, and trees that don’t take offense when we forget to show gratitude for the oxygen they give us. We possess an extraordinary, boundless ability to love.

The question I ask is this: Can you love like a flower?

Are you blooming fully without seeking admiration, attention, or recognition?

Can you open your heart entirely—celebrating, forgiving, giving, and embracing life with joy—without hesitation or expectation of anything in return?

Growing up and navigating relationships, I often took things deeply to heart, and even now, I sometimes find myself deflated when I feel unappreciated.

There have been moments when I was crushed and overcome with sorrow, and in response, I tried to protect myself by withdrawing and building walls of defense. I’ve been hurt when a boss overlooked an achievement, when a partner pulled away or didn’t make time for a much-needed conversation, or when a friend couldn’t even call on my birthday—just sent a quick text—or didn’t reciprocate with a birthday meal after I had treated them many times. Can you imagine a flower sulking because it wasn’t admired or the moon dimming because we’re too caught up in ourselves to appreciate its light?

Strive to radiate your light regardless of the circumstances, to love without conditions, and to be an accepting, compassionate, kind, and gentle spirit—even when no one is watching.

And if you feel moved to do so, embrace the next tree you pass and say, “Thank you!”