African Violets

When I was younger, my grandparents -- who I loved visiting -- had a small pot of African Violets sitting in the middle of their kitchen table. It was a bright, sunny room that always smelled of brewing coffee, dishwasher soap and chlorine (up until they moved into a condo years later, my grandfather owned a tiny swimming pool supply shop during his retirement).

But the violets never bloomed. It was happy, healthy little plant... but refused to hatch any pretty purple little flowers. Vexed, my grandmother attached a faux african violet flower to the plant.

Suddenly the shrinking violet bloomed. It was like the little fake flower had eased off the pressure, and the plant suddenly relaxed. And things began happening. Flowers began popping up all over.

I'm not sure what reminded me of this... but I feel certain there's a lesson in it for me somewhere.