I almost threw them away.

But then I stopped dead in my tracks as I suddenly realized how beautiful this silky, soft, pink peony was even though it has lived its cycle.

Now, a new way in which it is full of beauty. As if a delicate, vintage doily.

And the two buds on either side which never made it to full bloom. But caught in-between worlds, as if in a cocoon and trying and be forever young.

I now don’t have the heart to dispose of the them–it’s as if they are standing still in time. I want to let them linger just a bit longer and take in their exquisite wisdom of seeing grace where we can so automatically dismiss it.

Just like growing older – there can be elegance and dignity in that too. We just have to look for it and appreciate it.