So many of us can relate and empathize with the beauty – sometimes almost accidental – that can come from challenging seasons. Head down, focused on the next right thing, showing up every day…something comes alive. For Kayla, that was during the pandemic. Floral design became an important tool for mindfulness, and she fell more in love with her flower garden’s potential.
Fast forward a bit, and, as a horticulturist, Kayla is not only excited and ready to “connect with likeminded individuals who care about showing up, being kind, and altruistic” – she’s showing up in her community to do just that. This year, Kayla is volunteering at Catherine’s Place – a women’s support center in Tacoma – to bring new life and beauty to their huge, overgrown garden.
Catherine’s Place hosts support groups, wellness services, and workshops for women in need, and Kayla will “harvest flowers from the property and share them with as many women inside and outside of the center as possible to encourage kindness and healing.” She’s already connected with a small “flower friends” club in Tacoma, and they have donated seeds that she is and will be growing for the center. Extra plants beyond what can be planted on the property will be donated to women at Catherine’s Place to take home to plant.
In her application, Kayla shared, “this year I am committed to blossoming as a person, opening my heart and sharing my creativity and passions with the people in my life” and that she’s “ready to open [her] heart to new connections and opportunities through the power of flowers”.
Through both smiles and tears, we can only imagine how sincerely and joyfully Amber would have cheered Kayla on. Both Amber and Kayla show us what tenacity, showing up, the power of flowers, and giving generously look like.
It’s going to be a delight to watch the gardens transform and grow as Kayla brings them to life, sharing the beautiful bounty with the women there, and as she grows and gives from her own garden, too. The gentle ripples of kindness and connection flowing within and out from Tacoma, connecting around the world – as we each do our small bit of good in our local communities – will be a marvel. A continuation of the growing and giving, kindness and connection over these past few years; a circle that has no end.
In Amber’s words, “I feel like I have been given the opportunity to share the hard parts of my life along with the happy times and that as I have found beauty and shared it my life has been so much richer.”
