Fresh Flowerness, from Touching Peace by Thich Naht Hanh


From Thich Naht Hanh, "Touching Peace"


When we see someone who is very fresh, we like to sit close to him. He knows how to preserve himself as a flower. With mindful breathing, we can also be fresh. Young people who have not suffered much are still beautiful flowers, the kind of flowers that can be a source of joy for anyone at any time. Just by breathing in and out and smiling, we too have a flower to offer, and the more we practice breathing and smiling, the more beautiful our flower will become. A flower does not have to do anything to be of service, it only has to be a flower. That is enough. A human being, if she is a true human being, is enough to make the whole world rejoice. So please practice breathing in and out and recover your flowerness. You do it for all of us. Your freshness and your joy bring us peace.

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