Impermanent Beauty

Last week, my husband and I were lucky enough to experience the famous Holland tulips. Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the Netherlands during this time to witness the the beauty of these flowers. Seemingly unending rows of various colors and species of tulips make for a spectacular sight. The amount of labor and hours to prepare the gardens is a massive effort. And yet, the tulips bloom for only a couple weeks before the season is over. The short lived window in which the tulips bloom is what makes them so special. We know they are temporary and we must enjoy them now, because soon, they will be gone.

The tulips are not so different than most things in our world. If we take a moment to stop and look around us, everything we see is temporary. Everything in our lives is fleeting, including the way we look, the way we feel, the way we live, the things we own. The only certainty that we have, is that everything will eventually change. It is the impermanent nature of life, that gives it value.

One of the the main principles of the Yoga philosophy is Aparigraha, which means, non-attachment. When we try to hold on to something that is transient, when we believe we own something that like us, is only temporary, we lose the ability to fully enjoy it, and more importantly, block ourselves from experiencing freedom.

What if we treated each day with the same wonder and joy that we give things like tulips? With the appreciation that every moment must be given our full attention, because each moment is temporary and soon will be gone.

Perhaps this week you might find yourself experiencing something pleasant. Maybe noticing a pretty tree just starting to bloom, or a quiet moment with a loved one, or a particularly tasty cup of coffee. See if you can give that moment the same appreciation you might give a Holland tulip. Pause, relish, and fully enjoy it, understanding that it's not a moment to keep, only a moment to experience, and when it passes, gracefully let it go.