Practices for Children: We Are All Flowers | by Orla O’Sullivan

Hi, my name is Orlaith.

And today we're going to explore the art of flower watering.

With the help of our book, We Are All Flowers.

And it goes like this.

We are all flowers.

Each and every one.

We're freshened by water.

We reach towards the sun, sometimes we're strong flowers,

super confident.

Like a big dandelion pushing up through cement.

And some days we're droopy.

A bit tired or unsure.

A bit worried or lonely or sad or heartworn.

We have droopy times, so it's just great to know how refreshing each other helps flowers to grow.

It helps you and your friends and your family and me and your classmates and teammates and community.

You can change the whole day.

If you can water one flower.

You can change the whole world with super watering power.

So how do we do this?

Here's a pathway that's clear.

Three steps to success in your gardening career.

One.

Start from your heart.

It just has to be true.

No fake flower watering.

It has to be you.

Two

find someone you love.

Bring them into your heart.

Draw them in nice and close, so they really take part.

You might notice their eyes or their smile or their voice

or their hands or their laugh or their toes.

It's your choice.

What do you feel with this person so dear?

What things do you sense when this person is near?

Snuggled or cared for, loved or heart warmed,

included or just safe, your worries transformed.

Three.

Now get super specific.

What on earth do they do that you're happy, they're them and they're so happy, you're you.

It can be big or little, something loving or wise

or patient or generous or a lovely surprise.

It could be them not shouting when you were so cross

or making ice cream with the best chocolate sauce,

may be holding you close when you were so scared.

Or listening deeply.

So you felt really heard.

It can be anything.

So let your heart explore and find one thing about them that you just adore.

Don't pick up a bucket and drench them all quick.

A gentle cascade is what will do the trick.

With precision and care.

You can refresh with ease and their hearts will blossom with your expertise.

When we water flowers, we're presenting a prize

and people can glimpse how things look through our eyes.

We all see things differently.

Things mean different things.

Some of us love seesaws and some of us swings.

Some love bedtime songs.

They help us rest deep and some yank up the covers.

"I'm trying to sleep."

Flower watering helps us to be known and seen

so we know how things feel when they mean what they mean.

With practice, flower watering is an everyday joy.

It's indubitably a great skill to employ.

It helps everyone know that you know that they're there

and you know that they're kind and you know that they care.

So go forth wise gardeners and re-energise all the beautiful flowers so dear to your eyes.

All the ways that they care for you, you recognize.

But wait.

There's a fourth step that's crucial to know.

For sometimes you're droopy, no energy to grow.

There are goggles of gloominess we sometimes wear

and we feel a bit rubbish and it feels hard to care.

This is just when we muster our kindness and strength to help us retune to a better wavelength.

We remember small things that we did or we said.

We took care of our sleepy selves by going to bed.

We brushed teeth and we tidied.

We offered to share.

We snuggled our pet so that they know we care.

We rested and played and we learned and explored.

We dreamed.

And we tried to be patient.

When bored, we gave someone a hug or our words brought a smile.

We took care of our anger, which was so worthwhile coming back to our body,

feeling safe and at home, breathing deep in our belly, at peace in the zone.

There were times we helped loads,

with our kind open heart.

Drop by drop.

We remember.

And you'll find once you start that a giant cascade of heart pouring pour zags.

And you more than you need now, without attach, filling up watering cans and a wide reservoir,

reminding you, you're amazing, just as you are.

So don't let it push past.

Each drop of memory brings super strength and anti-droopy energy

and you'll know you are a wonder.

Aware of all that you do.

You will remember your goodness and your said this is true.

The importantest flower to water is you.

The end.

So I hope you enjoyed this practice of flower watering.

May you take really good care of your precious heart every day.

May you take really good care of each other.

Take really good care of our beautiful planet.

Okay.

Bye bye.