There is an old German legend that just as God had finished naming all the beautiful plants on Earth, He heard a tiny cry, “Forget me not, O Lord!” from a tiny blue flower. God turned and replied that this would be its name. In dealing with personal struggles, I often reflect on the Forget Me Not blossom and how life’s more difficult challenges often instill feelings of loneliness or exasperation. My more recent reflections on the Forget Me Not flower have prompted me to discuss with you 3 points I find helpful when life hands me lemons.

  1. Forget not to be patient with yourself. Everyone has both weaknesses and strengths- unfortunately, it’s a package deal. The road to success is long and life is short. Don’t waste time fussing over your own shortcomings and don’t stop trying!
  2. Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish one. A good sacrifice would be giving up something good for something greater. For example: leaving for an hour during work to go get a mammogram. When we are knee-deep in one of life’s challenges, it can seem so easy, and even logical, to allow the issue to dominate our lives. This is much of the reason why the face of life’s trials, one’s health and wellness quickly drop on the priority list. However, in reality, taking the time to seek after health and wellness during life’s trials is much more productive long-term.
  3. Forget not to be happy now. Some of life’s experiences are filled with joy and peace, while others are filled with sorrow and uncertainty- the loss of a loved one, the stress of having children, illness, financial troubles, etc. Embrace life’s challenges and be thankful for each and every small success. If we spend much of our time lusting after roses and lilies, we will miss the beauty of the smaller Forget Me Not moments.

When life gives you lemons, make something fresh! Sometimes life’s trials can be our personal “restart” button, giving us the opportunity to pause, freshen up our goals, and rethink the direction we are headed in. This Meyer Lemon Budino is a refreshing, low calorie treat. Enjoy!