🌸 A Smile That Grows in the Garden

I don’t know if it’s the sunlight, the soil, or the cute little Venus flytrap in my hands—but today, I can’t stop smiling.

There’s something about kneeling here in my garden, surrounded by the plants I’ve nurtured for years, that makes my heart feel light. The air smells like fresh leaves and blooming flowers, and the breeze carries the soft rustle of petals and branches. It’s quiet, but not lonely. It’s the kind of quiet that feels like a hug.

And this little flytrap—oh, it’s a mischievous one. I’ve named her Midori. She’s not just a plant; she’s a tiny drama queen with her snapping jaws and her mossy throne. I pamper her like royalty, and she rewards me by looking fierce and fabulous. Watching her grow makes me laugh. She’s so small, yet so bold. Isn’t that how joy works sometimes? It sneaks up in the tiniest things.

I wore my favorite orange shirt today. It’s bright, like the marigolds behind me. I think colors have moods, and orange is the color of giggles and sunshine and warm soup. It makes me feel alive. And when I saw the camera, I didn’t pose—I just smiled. Because how could I not? Everything around me was smiling first.

The garden is my mirror. When it’s blooming, I bloom. When it’s quiet, I listen. And when I laugh, it feels like the flowers laugh with me. I think joy is like that—contagious, like pollen in spring. You don’t need a reason. Sometimes, you just need to notice.

So if you’re reading this, I hope you feel it too. That little tug at the corners of your mouth. That warmth in your chest. That reminder that happiness doesn’t have to be loud or grand—it can be a moment, a smile, a little plant named Midori.

Come sit with me in the garden sometime. I’ll save you a spot next to the flytrap. Don’t worry—I don’t bite… but she does!

With love and laughter,

Midori’s Mama 🌿😊