Ever since I can remember, Bougainvillea has always managed to spark some kind of joy in me. No matter what state I’m in, a glimpse of these flowers bring my awareness back to the present where I take at least a few moments to admire their beauty. I never really wondered or tried to reason out my love for these flowers until someone asked me about it one day.
My relationship with these blooms dates back to my childhood days, in a little village known for its mountains and coffee plantations called Kodagu, in the South of India. My house on the farm was accustomed to the silence of the slow life and limited human interactions for the most part of the year, would spark up during the summer vacations, My cousins would visit from the cities to spend their vacation.
The dreariness of the space would suddenly be taken over by laughter and running around of children. We had a large garden that was home to a variety of flowers like Anthuriums, Roses and many others along with Bougainvillaea. I remember playing with my cousins under the bougainvillaea tree in our garden. We would set up our kitchen on the bed of white and fuchsia flowers and pretend to run a home. It’s probably the sense of autonomy and freedom I experienced during those play that I long for.
If I had to describe these flowers in a word I would call them “Carefree” light, delicate yet so full of life. I still remember every time my mother trimmed the plant, it would grow back wild in just a few days. It’s also this quality of theirs, that draws me towards them.
Also, being around these flowers give me a romantic feeling, most likely because of all the Bollywood movies I watched in my teenage years (I just caught myself judging while said this). Or maybe because of their sheer beauty.
As I continue to wonder, these flowers continue to inspire me and fill my heart with an abundance of joy and love and more wonder.
Isn’t it strange how we subconsciously associate emotions with things around us, it could be people or materials. And when we consciously sit and map it down, we realize that it was never about that thing or that person, it’s almost always about how you experienced it, or what meaning you associate with it.
Are there things you get drawn towards which you can’t really reason out why? Do let me know in the comments.
Also, if this story struck a chord within you and you are interested in more such stories from the life of an ordinary human follow along.