The Green Shoots of Recovery

In the front courtyard, we have a large ceanothus shrub growing up one of the walls.  In the summer it is a magnet for bees, who adore the tiny, bright blue flowers which nestle amongst the glossy green leaves.  It is certainly a thing of great beauty. 

This last winter, however, dealt harshly with our beautiful ceanothus.  Various people advised us that it was dead and there was speculation on several occasions as to the logistics of its removal.  I remained just as convinced that it was still living; to my own eye, it was obvious just looking at the trunk and branches, even though no green leaves remained to lend proof to my theory.

The wonderful warm, spring days of the last week have now wrought the miracle I knew was there.  Tiny, green shoots have started to appear from the trunk as our ceanothus again burgeons into abundant life, to await the visitations of bees once the flowers follow, as surely they will.

Don't give up on your dreams and goals just because someone else has a different opinion; do whatever it is that makes you come alive.