Using Purple Flowers as an Olive Branch to Restore Relationships
By Jill Brooke
How do we reconnect with family and friends we stopped speaking to because of political disagreements or other issues?
I was thinking of a way to unify us — and find a way for a loving feeling to rebloom. Maybe instead of an olive branch, we give a gift of purple flowers as a peace offering. Let’s wave a wand – or stem – and make the purple flower part of this effort we are calling the “Purple Peace Bouquet.” It’s a peace offering to remind us what roots us together vs. tears us apart.
Because when you mix Republican red and Democratic blue, it creates PURPLE.
Throughout history, the color purple has had a variety of effects on the mind and body, including uplifting spirits, calming the mind and nerves, enhancing the sacred and creating feelings of togetherness. The color purple also embraces so many different shades and tones. In fact, lavender has the same components as valium in calming tensions scientifically.
It’s a small gesture, I know. But the goal is to plant a bigger seed and we have to start someplace. We can’t destroy so many of our relationships over politics and other disagreements. Friendships were planted with common interests. We share family roots. Purple is a neutral color. It is a color for peace. And Valentine’s Day is around the corner so why not send a “Purple Peace Bouquet.”
The good news is everyone loves flowers. So whether it’s giving a single tulip or a hyacinth or calling local florists for a purple bouquet of calla lilies or roses– or even if you just email an image of a beautiful purple flower, you are sending a message of hope: Let’s move forward and remember what roots us together.
In fact, we are sharing a group of curated photographs to send to friends and family for this effort given to us by award-winning photographers including Jackie Kramer and Deb Shapiro.
Valentine’s Day may be an ideal time to make such a gesture.
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates 190 million valentines are sent each year. Maybe this year, we take it a step further. In a climate soiled by hatred, we need to add something that is beautiful and heartfelt. Here’s what you can write on a card: “There’s a new idea from Flower Power Daily about sharing a purple bloom as part of “Purple Flowers for Peace” to restore relationships so that love can rebloom. Here’s my purple olive branch to you. Let’s reconnect.” Who won’t be moved by that? I’m counting on many people responding to that effort and the ones who don’t, aren’t worth it. At least you tried in the name of love.
After all, for centuries, flowers express emotions and sentiments when words are hard to find.
Flowers silently assure us that beauty and solace exist despite loss or injustice. They are the weapons of choice to disarm violence. They add a peaceful voice to anguish, an acknowledgment of regret; their beauty is a symbol of hope. Flowers are one of the only entities that are used simultaneously to comfort as well as congratulate, to soothe and stimulate, to offer a burst of positivity and joy as well as reverence for the complexities in life.
So think of who you may want to send a purple flower to in your life. And please show us what you sent and tag us on Instagram or Facebook. Tell them you are part of flowerpowerdaily’s campaign for #purplepeacebouquet.” We will gladly post some of the images so send them to [email protected].
Valentine’s Day is the holiday for love. As the poet, Kahil Gibran said, “The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns.”
Here are some of the efforts already shared for #purplepeacebouquet.
Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazine. She is an author and started FPD to bring people joy through flowers.