"No mud, no lotus"

"No mud, no lotus" ~Thich Nhat Hanh

When I first learned that the lotus flower blooms from the mud, I remember thinking about what a great metaphor that was for my life. There have been many times that I was stuck in the mud, just feeling awful about the whole situation and wishing I could find a way out. Sometimes I even put myself squarely in the mud through my own actions.

But being in the mud, or going through a terrible time, is where all of the important lessons I have learned really clicked. The struggle of the time I've spent in the mud brought those revelations squarely into focus. And I think if I hadn't had to face all of that, I might not have found the lessons. So I try to remind myself that when things take a tough turn: there is probably a good lesson that I'll learn here that I wouldn't otherwise learn; a gorgeous lotus that will emerge. I look for the lesson in the midst of the mud. And the tattoo on my wrist is a good reminder of the beautiful and important lessons that I've learned in the mud.

I hope that if you are facing a struggle, that there is an opportunity to find some good in it; perhaps even a lotus flower at some point.