The Beauty Beneath Guilianna Salvas- 8th grade
Most would agree that flowers are one of nature’ s most beautiful gifts. Their colorful petals can make any dull room so much more welcoming. Smelling their fresh fragrance creates a pleasant aroma at any given moment. Plus, there is always an occasion for flowers. If it’ s tough days, anniversaries, or random surprises, these special offerings are always cherished by those who receive them.
A bouquet only ever has one job; to sit there and look pretty. They are placed into glass vases and are perched up onto a table or shelf. As people walk by, they take small glances at these wonderful things. Some may even stop for a second just to appreciate their presence. The flowers usually last for about 1-2 weeks. But eventually, the time comes where they’ re not as perfect anymore. They begin to droop, followed by a few petals falling off and some discoloring on the leaves. After this process, it is finally time. The flowers need to be thrown out.
This is just the hard truth. As soon as a flower’ s appearance becomes more appalling than appealing, people get rid of it. They believe there is no point in having an“ ugly” flower on display. Who would want that, anyway? So, the flowers are discarded into the garbage along with empty candy wrappers and countless pieces of crumbled-up paper. There’ s no use for them anymore. They’ re now worthless.
Some people may think of themselves as a flower. They feel the need to be perfect all the time, no matter how hard it is. They’ re fearful that if they do one wrong thing, they’ d face several consequences, like being poorly perceived by others. So even if they’ re upset or stressed out, they’ ll keep a smile on their face around everyone. But what people see on the outside isn’ t always how they feel on the inside.
It is very exhausting for people who think this way. It takes a lot of motivation to try to be their best self at all times. It is so much easier to be alone because they feel they won’ t be judged or criticized by other people. They can act however they want. Because just like flowers, once they’ re in public, they have to be flawless.
The most important thing for people who feel like this is to have friends who will love you no matter what. Friends who will appreciate you on your best days but are there for you when times get hard. Friendships like these are ones to cherish. Because in front of these people, you don’ t need to give 110 % within every interaction. You can just be you.
So, the next time your flower loses some color and starts to curl up, just take a second to appreciate it. Just because it’ s not as captivating as before doesn’ t mean it never was. Life comes with many obstacles, and nobody can be perfect at every single moment. Especially when they’ re facing challenges. Try to be empathetic with everyone. You never know what someone is going through, and the last thing you want is for them to feel like a flower.