Live Positive Way - December Poo

 Live Positive Way - December பூ

"Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity." John Ruskin

I always have a deep love for flowers and their aroma, because my name, "Sugandhi" means "fragrance." At times we have some choices or love for two things at a time, which may be exact opposites to each other. I am not an exception when it comes to such choices. When I like the tuberose (rajnigandha) flower's scent the most, I feel particularly linked to another flower that doesn't possess any 'scent' or 'fragrance' but has yet created wonder in my life.

That was the time when my grandparents moved away with my uncle, who was transferred to a different place, and I used to really miss my grandma. Back then, when we didn't even have landline phones or smartphones, I used to feel quite alone because I couldn't talk to my grandmother quite often, and even though Dad was my best friend, he was often away on his official trips, leaving me mostly by myself.

 We used to live in a rented house, and in those days, the apartment setup was not so popular, so a few landlords let some portion of their house or their outhouse on rent. In one such house, the landlord had a wide range of plants all over the surroundings. Flowers used to come in a variety of colours, some of which were seasonal and others were seen all through the year. The dissolution of our joint family system, as well as the changes in location, school, and atmosphere, caused me so much stress that I couldn't make any new 'good' friends. My only source of comfort was watching these vibrant flowers in the evening.

The December month became so close to my heart with the arrival of these non-fragrance flowers, which we called December poo (I don't know how it is called in English). They used to bloom in a range of colours, including light purple, blue, pink, white, and a blue and white blossom combination that looks incredibly stunning, even if they don't have a sweet aroma. The lady who owns our home saw me spending time with these beautiful flowers. She was a bit harsh with everyone but surprisingly generous with me, and one day she told me that I may pick a few flowers every day for myself while leaving a few on the plant to make it look nice. For me, that was like winning a lottery.

I used to wake up early in the morning and go straight to pluck those flowers and tie them into a garland, and I proudly wore them. I used to find it difficult to find happiness and a sense of connection with others back then, but those tiny flowers used to bring both, 'happiness' and a sense of 'connection'. It eventually helped me to overcome my gloom and gave me a great new passion for life. We used to receive them from November until the end of January, despite the fact that they are a seasonal flower for December. Winter eventually became my favourite season of the year because I looked forward to these flowers blooming there.

My childhood taught me that pleasure need not necessarily be defined by what 'we desire' or by anything that is difficult and highly challenging to obtain, but rather even the smallest of God's creations can provide us with a complete connection, a purpose for our quest, and a great delight and absolute pleasure. Now, the first thing that springs up in my mind when I think of December is those lovely flowers that bloom throughout that month. I have been anticipating December month for years now. Sadly though now I hardly see the plant anywhere near my house, I get them from the local flower market, and they still decorate my plaits. Since only tiny girls wear these flowers nowadays, my pals make fun of me, however, I always enjoy wearing them on my head.

My young readers might believe that I keep writing about my old stories; therefore, I want to reassure them that it is our past experiences and knowledge that have shaped who we are today. Back then, despite the problems and hardships we faced, we continued to look for enjoyment and fulfilment in the tiniest little things. It would be wonderful if you too could spend quality time with your parents to learn such fascinating tales about their formative years and virtually travel back in time to gain new perspectives on life.

Since I've been away from my land now, I couldn't discover my December poo this winter season after all these years, but I'm sure I'll check them again next year.

There are so many other creators (apart from humans) which live in this universe in addition to us. As fellow creatures, we are all dependent on one another, and if we can value every other fellow creature, this earth will become a lovely place to live.

I will continue to explore and admire my life, and I hope you will do the same. Keep in touch with your loved ones, cherish your memories, and remain optimistic at all times. 

Stay healthy and stay positive! - Suganthi Sankaran