My Truth: About those Flowers

By Cheryl Smith:

I was today years old when I finally realized the significance of the statement about “giving flowers when a person can smell them.”

The treatment I received at the greatest of all time homecoming 2025 at Florida A&M University, is an experience everyone should have and one day should provide – that is to receive and to give love.

Love is the best flower of all.

If I never smell another flower, I’m fine because that Rattler love is the ultimate and I received so many flowers as my portrait was unveiled at the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication.

People I had not seen in decades came out to show their love and I thought to myself this is a wonderful experience

Which brings me to my truth.

Too often, I have heard folks lamenting over what they wish they had done. They hear about the death of someone and remorse overtakes them as they go through the “if I could’ve, would’ve should’ve” episodes.

During COVID, I pulled out my phone and began calling people to do wellness checks. Listening to crap on television and being isolated can wear on you and I said, “God if I feel this way, I know others do, so let me check on them.”

It was a joy talking to folks, some I hadn’t talked to in years and I just told them I was checking on them because I didn’t know how we were going to, or  if we were going to come out of this pandemic.

It was a joyful experience and I made several calls a day and I know I gave some flowers out during that time.

But it shouldn’t take a pandemic, or death, or a special occasion to pass out those flowers to whomever you desire.

There’s a mental crisis in this world. People are hurting and hurt people hurt people.

So how do we make it through? How do we get over the hump? Good questions and sadly everyone doesn’t overcome their sad moments.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States and based on recent mortality data, suicide in some populations is on the rise.

Suicide rates have reached epidemic proportions; so much that you have governmental agencies trying to tie actual murders, especially of young Black men, to suicide, rather than recognizing all the signs of lynchings.

Young Black men found hanging in Mississippi and Ohio are some of the latest reported and ruled as suicides.

Flowers may be shared among loved ones, but sadly there won’t be justice especially when the deaths and kidnappings of Black or Brown children are not a priority.

With this realization, spreading flowers becomes more important.  And, since those flowers have no impact whatsoever on the recipient when they are deceased, don’t hesitate.

Spreading flowers while the scent puts a smile on faces can be just as beneficial to you as it is to the recipients.

Try it!