I thought of that saying right away about two weeks ago when I saw these cheerful flowers (um, weeds) growing out of the crack at the base of this brick wall where it hits the sidewalk (and took a picture, of course). There’s something so optimistic and vital about flowers sprouting up in hostile environments. It makes you realize that even the most dire straits can’t completely stifle our yearning to reach for our dreams. As Jeff Goldblum’s character, Dr. Ian Malcolm, says in Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way.” (Although the actual line, as delivered in the movie, is more like this: “Life . . . uh . . . finds a way.” That “uh” adds a ton of dramatic import that a straight delivery just can’t match. If you don’t remember that scene, go find the clip on YouTube where the baby dinosaur hatches, and I’ll bet you agree! 😀)
I’ve always liked the saying I used to title this post, “Bloom where you’re planted,” which I think I first heard from artist Mary Englebreit. She was extremely popular in the 1980s and 1990s, is probably still popular even today (I haven’t paid attention), and her story always inspired me to make the most of whatever circumstances I happened to find myself in. Born in St. Louis, Englebreit wanted to be an artist, a children’s book illustrator, I believe. She tried shopping her work around New York, took it to all the publishers, and was rejected. Did she let their “no”s stop her? Heck, no. She took a job in advertising in St. Louis and kept making her art.
Next thing you know, she owned a multimillion dollar business (greeting cards, mugs, calendars, home decor) centered around her very unique, whimsical style of art. And she managed to build that empire right there in her hometown of St. Louis. Bloom where you’re planted, indeed!
Anyway, when I found myself at that same brick wall today (my pharmacy, where I accidentally arrived before it opened, so I had to sit in the car and wait fifteen minutes, which gave me ample time to observe the landscape, as it were), I noticed that those flowers are still growing—even though we had a rather aggressive early-season snowstorm a couple days ago.
Today is chilly and overcast in Milwaukee, a very November shade of gray.
Seems like a great time, consequently, to post this photo and celebrate yellow flowers defying the odds and stretching toward the sun❤️
Katherine Wikoff 
I am always delighted when I see a flower (yes, usually a weed) that was determined enough to grow up from a crack in the sidewalk or pavement! It always makes me think, “Yeah, I can probably do it if that flower can do it.”
As soon as I read the name Mary Engelbreit an image of her drawings popped into my head. I had to google to check if I was right and I was! I had no idea I even knew the name of the artist, but I guess it was in there after all.
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Interesting observations as ever! The copywriter in me can’t help but play with the words though. So, why not also: ‘Plant where you bloom’ or put down roots in a place that makes you happy? Or maybe that’s just me twisting things to fit my situation as I am a transplant. 😁
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I like your twist on the saying! In the original, you build your happiness despite the place; in the second, you build your place around the happiness. That makes sense! My daughter, the statistics expert, tells me it’s a question of which variable is dependent and which one is independent. I like our words and images better, but I suppose logic also works!😀
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