Managing A Busy Mind
Do you crave getting lost in the present moment?
Following completion of this arrangement I remember being both mentally and physically exhausted. Only after I sat down to eat something did I realize just how laser focused I had been while putting it together. I had been dealing with overwhelming thoughts and tough emotions due to my grandpa’s declining health. As I sit here writing, I think about all the thought, time and effort I poured into creating this piece of art. Simultaneously I feel gratitude, joy and sorrow. I am thankful that I have flowers in my life to keep me grounded. I seem to find endless joy in every aspect of floral arranging, from the onset of an idea, to collecting ingredients and processing them, as well as witnessing the final product. It is with sadness that I won’t be able to share this joy with Grandpa another time.
Whether in times of hardship or I’m having a particularly troublesome day mentally, my mind welcomes the opportunity to be fully engaged in an exercise that feels familiar, comforting and good for the soul. Is there an activity you can rely on to give your mind a little bit of rest and/or refresh when you need it? Managing a busy mind isn’t always easy, especially if we have yet to recognize what our thoughts are and how they are making us feel. Sometimes there’s a trigger that sends our brain into overdrive, and many times the disturbance seems inexplicable. Either way, one important step is to recognize when it’s happening so we can make adjustments accordingly. When I am capable of observing my thoughts instead of getting caught up in them, I can choose to flip the script and remind myself to focus on something that keeps me in the present. After a few minutes of focusing my attention in an intentional manner, oftentimes I feel an immediate sense of relief. My thoughts and feelings don’t feel quite as overwhelming.
Anytime I can indulge in an activity that keeps my mind in the present moment and away from the never ending spiral of thought is a win for me. Participating in an activity such as floral design provides a safe place for my mind to rest and replenishes my energy to live and create. This renewed energy has a positive effect on every aspect of my day to day life including things such as having an easier time accomplishing small, mundane tasks and helping me to better navigate my interpersonal relationships. Simply put, creating with flowers is good for my mental health.
With this design I wanted to stick to an analogous color palette as much as possible, using ingredients with colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. I prefer this style as it tends to present a more harmonious look to the eye. I ended up with pink, pinky-purple and burgundy accented by the standout, two-toned rhododendron foliage.
My ingredients:
Rhododendron branches- During the end of May my neighborhood is exploding with color from titan-sized rhododendron bushes. Seemingly every house has at least one of these showstoppers, except us. We don’t have one. I’m a little salty about this. Luckily, my Aunt was gracious enough to allow me to cut a few branches from hers. The foliage is just as stunning as the voluminous, star shaped pinky-lavender blooms. I wanted to spotlight the deep green, almond shaped leaves that turn into bright, sour-apple green spokes towards the end of their woody branches. You can find this greenery most prominently in the upper left corner and lower right.
Peony from my flower bed- I’m fortunate to have five mature peony plants that were originally planted by the previous owner of our house. Peonies provide an early glimmer of the summer months (and showy blooms) to come. These resemble a hot pink hue when on their own, but after pairing with the pinky-lavender rhododendron in this design, they appear to take on a cooler bluish hue. I admit that I was excited to work with these fluffy, focal flowers for the first time!
Japanese Maple branches- These branches were another very exciting find that were kindly given to me by my neighbor after they had done some pruning. This tree is beautiful no matter what time of year it is. Japanese Maple leaves can appear a vivid red during the autumn season, but during the spring/summer this variety exhibits a bordeaux wine hue on the front of the leaves and deep gray-green on the back. The deeper burgundy color complements the pinks and provides depth to my arrangement. I think it adds an element of unexpected interest.
Alstroemeria
Daisy
Mini Carnation
These last three ingredients I picked up at my local grocer. Alstroemeria can typically be found at most supermarket flower sections in a few color options. This light pink variety is so pretty and coincidentally features flashes of hot pink and sour-apple green within their trumpet like, spotted petals. I couldn’t pass up the ever-cheerful daisies as they almost perfectly match the color of the tropical looking rhododendron. I chose the mini carns because I felt the arrangement would need an accent flower I could sprinkle in as an all-over pop of bright color. These three supermarket flowers have a super long vase life, which make them great for designing with.
I’m happy with how my design turned out and I’m eager to get to work on an idea for my next arrangement. I hope by sharing some of my current thoughts/emotions that it doesn’t bring you down. If anything I want to connect. I want to let you know you’re not alone in whatever struggle you may be facing. I hope you find joy in creating or practicing a hobby in spite of your negative, anxious or ruminating thoughts.
Once again, thanks for reading.
Chance of Showers
