June 2, 2011 by Sana Johnson-Quijada MD

Love Differently, Love Your Flaws – Be a Tall Poppy

Image by Steve Corey via Flickr

To my family and friends, I thought differently.

But since I’ve loved my flaws less harshly, like pointing jeweled fingers;

since I’ve fallen and let myself savor who I was just then, rasping throat from less than gentle sounds, beautifully broken down, a phoenix who was afraid and not afraid to die;

since I’ve been in the same room with myself, my smells, my dying cells, my mistakes and since I’ve loved these things – since then I have loved you.

I thought I was before but this is differently better.

I am loving you when you turn away and miss your opportunity to praise. I feel myself soften and think how you are mine.

I am loving you when you miss your self-care and come late and forget.

I thought differently before.

I thought I loved you more the other times, but this is.

It is better to see that you will never be who I expected and that you just missed the turn and won’t.

It is better since I have thought more of me.

And although this sounds off; a discordant honk in the culture score around us,

Although this is awkward showing my ankles exposed while I walk amongst tall-poppies, I even love that

and it is not to say I gloat,

just that I won’t run to hide behind my accomplishments

and won’t hide you behind yours. I love you more because there is more. This is differently better and I love you.

Self-Care Tip #278 – Be a tall poppy.

Courage. (thedayiturneduncool.wordpress.com)
Our first duty (chrysalisjourney.wordpress.com)

24 thoughts on “Love Differently, Love Your Flaws – Be a Tall Poppy”

Cindy Taylor | June 2, 2011 at 2:06 am

This is profoundly beautiful, thanks Doc.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 7, 2011 at 9:40 pm
  
  cindy.
  
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  - Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 7, 2011 at 9:40 pm
    
    your name says all i need to. hugs
    
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carldagostino | June 2, 2011 at 2:20 am

One flaw or character defect I have come to appreciate is stubbornness. You just have to employ it to fortify the positive directions you wish to follow.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 6:43 am
  
  i appreciate your turn toward specifics. thank u carl. this is a bigger dimension to what was posted. keep on.
  
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suzicate | June 2, 2011 at 5:13 am

Lovely writing. Be a tall poppy, an extension of the shining sun!

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 7:18 am
  
  thx suzi
  
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Nancy | June 2, 2011 at 6:05 am

This is absolutely beautiful, Sana – so poetic and so strong. I love it as the poem it is as much as I love it for the message it gives. This one goes in my Bible to be read each night as a reminder, not only of who I am but who my family is, and what we can become through love and understanding. Thank you for making my day. Thank you for you and what you do.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 7:19 am
  
  thx nance. i lk imagining entering into worship w u.
  
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askirtaweek | June 2, 2011 at 8:58 am

Wow. Awesome. I am marinating in your words.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 12:44 pm
  
  The u sweet. But all I can think of is u in a bowel of olive oil, salt n lemon
  
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Patricia | June 2, 2011 at 9:40 am

I relly don’t care to be a tall poppy. I like being a daisy.

I don’t know how to do a link here but if you go to

patriciawonders.wordpress

and look at April 18,2010 you will better understand what I am saying.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 12:42 pm
  
  That was a sweet blog-post indeed. Yes. I definitely can see why u lk daisies! 😉
  
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Carol Ann Hoel | June 2, 2011 at 10:49 am

We must love others as they are, not as we want them to be or how they may someday be. What a sweet poem, Sana. Blessings to you…

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 12:30 pm
  
  Thank u dear carol. Bless u too!
  
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livingvictoriously | June 2, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Beautiful writing. But it is more important to me to know why you chose a ‘tall poppy’. Why you excluded all the other flowers over poppies; what made so special? Marie.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 4, 2011 at 10:58 am
  
  Marie, sorry it’s taken me so long to respond… I’ve been mulling over this n want u to know in a couple days I’m going to post on it cuz it’s a good q! Hugs
  
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sarahmcgaugh | June 2, 2011 at 6:07 pm

This is beautiful and takes up a home in the heart. Still working on collecting my thoughts about the workshop, too. I am deep into some Transcendentalist philosophy again right now, and it is amazing how many connections there are to all that we have been discussing. A blog post is kicking up dust in my mind about the workshop—when the words sort themselves out, I want to do a synthesis post like I did last week to give you some feedback. The take-away value from your workshops was HIGH…

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 2, 2011 at 6:21 pm
  
  thx friend. can’t wait to hear u.
  
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duckofindeed | June 4, 2011 at 10:43 am

This is quite lovely. It is certainly good to love others and ourselves just for who we are.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 4, 2011 at 11:21 am
  
  Thank you dear duck. I really bask in praise! Smile
  
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kateshrewsday | June 5, 2011 at 5:57 am

Gosh, this is stunning, and it speaks straight to the core. Thank you, Doc.

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- Sana Johnson-Quijada MD | June 5, 2011 at 9:12 pm
  
  thank u dear kate and you are welcome.
  
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