“Bloom where you are planted,” therapists often advise. Why is that man writing about blooming flowers in this autumnal month of October, you may ask? To which the answer may come, “It more relevantly serves my purpose than a dissertation on bloomin' idiocy!” And having been subjected to all of those bizarre food, pharmaceutical and political ads of late history, we could do with a lot more blooming flowers than what appears to be our current diet of bloomin' idiocy. But...I digress.

Bloom where you are planted seems to me a combination of the military's “be all that you can be” plus the advice to make the most of any given situation in which you may find yourself. But unlike our military's current dictum, I will openly advise, Do ask...do tell! Our Senior Federation desperately needs every unique attribute, interest and talent you may possess. Remember the World War II poster of our national logo pointing at the viewer saying, “Uncle Sam needs you!” Substitute Senior Seniority as the figure on that poster saying MnSF needs you in various leadership and volunteer positions.

Since born in the month of April, my assigned birth flower is the daisy. Analogous to those white petals circling a daisy are all my unique attributes, interests and talents. But I find myself in a garden row along with many other daisies and they keep wanting to pull off my petals to make me seem more like them. You will find yourself in rows of other flowers, too, but let's not let them pull our petals off. It is our uniqueness that makes us pricelessly useful. Volunteer your uniqueness.

Each of our flowery beings in the garden row is absolutely beautiful and uniquely special. When each of us is included, the row is mutually supportive and functional in the larger garden. With all of our colorful rows blooming collectively the garden is completely impressive, making a statement the world simply cannot ignore. And that is what we are about with our programs and our issues work...attracting attention...being noticed...getting the job done...blooming.

So, bloom where you are planted...but for goodness sake BLOOM!