~ from cats, dogs and nature to the flowering of body, mind and spirit ~

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Choose to be a Wallflower


I am a flower near the wall
with bright and cheerful face.
This is my choice, I say to all,
to harmonize this space.

I started thinking about the term "wallflower" and how it has such negative connotations, or it certainly did when I was a girl. And yet, the original Wallflower or Cheiranthus cheiri is a beautiful, sweet-smelling flower often growing along old rock walls or near castles, providing a lovely contrast to the sturdy stone. The figurative apparently came into use first in an 1820 work by a woman writing to describe those young ladies sitting on the wall at a dance.

But you know what? In this day and age, where women are free to ask someone else to dance rather than sit around waiting, and where women have the choice to participate or not in a party, meeting or group function, the negative energy can be overthrown.

I am reclaiming and empowering the term "wallflower" and returning it to a place of honor and beauty!

My selected definition of a wallflower?

"Someone who enhances or embellishes the scene
without choosing to participate directly."

________________
Photo Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux

4 comments:

  1. You know, I must admit that I didn't know that "wallflowers" were an actual flower. And such a pretty one! As a person who often prefers to listen and observe in large groups rather than talk, I particularly apprecitate your positive definition of "wallflower."

    Wonderful post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I knew we were kindred spirits, Beth. :-) Thanks for popping in...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm also one of those "observers" and I love your new definition! :)

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  4. Yay, Brenda! Let's spread the word -- Go Wallflowers! LOL

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by. With open heart, I welcome your thoughts however you wish to share them, whether via personal email or as a comment here. ~ Bright Blessings ~

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