Love Bloomed
For a long time, I wanted someone to bring me flowers.
I loved them, of course. But underneath that wish was something I didn’t quite know how to name yet: I wanted to feel considered. I wanted kindness, honesty, and room to be myself.
In Love Bloomed, the first episode of You Are a Work of Art, I share the story of the flowers I used to wait for, the ones I learned to buy for myself, and the Sunday flowers that became part of my life with Nick.
It’s also a story about creativity, asking for help, and learning to pay attention to what I needed.
Learning what care felt like
Therapy helped me see things I hadn’t been able to see on my own. Good friends offered support. Creating gave me somewhere to put what I didn’t always know how to say.
Sometimes I made things with my boys. Sometimes I created by myself. The results weren’t always beautiful, but afterward I often felt a little clearer—more like myself.
That showed up in other small choices, too: wearing more color, noticing what brought me joy, setting better boundaries, and bringing flowers home because I liked them.
Those choices took time. I was learning that my needs mattered and that I could participate in my own care.
The meaning behind Sunday flowers
Nick brought flowers on our first date, then again for our one-week anniversary. Eventually, Sunday flowers became our thing.
Sometimes they’re wildflowers. Sometimes they’re a picture or flowers he’s drawn in a card. What matters to me is the thoughtfulness: he remembers something that brings me joy.
Learning to care for myself helped me recognize that care when someone else offered it. My worth was already there.
Try the creative reset: Bring Yourself the Flowers
Set aside about ten minutes and grab paper and a pen or pencil. You can follow the written activity here or create alongside me at the end of the video episode.
1. Draw a flower
A circle with a few wobbly petals works perfectly well. This page is for you; it doesn’t need to impress anyone.
2. Notice what you need
In the center, write:
What have I been waiting for someone else to bring me?
Maybe it’s rest, encouragement, help, beauty, time, or fun. Write whatever comes up.
3. Add a few small possibilities
In the petals, write ways you could make room for that need this week. Keep them small enough for an ordinary day.
Rest might look like five quiet minutes before you go inside. Beauty might be one flower beside your bed. Support might begin with asking someone for help.
4. Choose one thing
At the bottom of the page, finish:
This week, I can bring myself…
Put the page somewhere you’ll see it as a reminder that you are worth showing up for.
Caring for yourself includes needing other people. This activity doesn’t ask you to lower your expectations for how you’re treated. It gives you a place to notice one need and one possible next step.
Want a little guidance getting started?
My free 10-Minute Creative Reset: From Seed to Bloom includes five simple pencil-and-paper exercises to help you notice what you need, explore what you enjoy, and find a little calm.
You’ll receive the workbook in your inbox right away, and I’ll guide you through the exercises by email over five days. No artistic skill required.
If you make your flower, I’d love to hear what you decided to bring yourself this week. You can find me on Instagram or join us in The Creative Courtyard.
You are already a work of art. Let’s make a little room for you.
—Monique