A stranger’s bouquet of flowers saved my life

I was ready to end it all.

It was March 2024 and I was suffering from chronic ailments. postpartum depression For 18 months.

I felt like a failure as both a mother and a partner, and I no longer saw a path forward.

I finally made peace with my decision and then I saw the flowers.

Those flowers will save my life.

Shortly after giving birth to my second child in September 2022, I began struggling with my mental health.

At first, I thought maybe I was going through an adjustment period juggling a newborn. struggling to breastfeed and a four year old constantly getting sick with many different illnesses is not a job for the faint of heart – but then I started to spiral.

I suffered severe anxiety and depression really took its toll on me and our family.

Then in December 2022 I was diagnosed with postpartum depression (PND). After various rounds of counseling and admissions to the PND ward, I struggled for over a year.

After a long period of pain. I didn’t think I could continue.

So on March 8, 2024, I had every intention. I’m ending my life.

It was quiet when I arrived at the train station. There was no one to stop me, talk me out of it, or save me.

That’s when I noticed bouquets of pale pink roses and white daisies placed on a bench.

I remember thinking this was strange; Why would there be flowers here when no one is around? The answer was clear; They were forgotten, but something told me there was more to it than that.

So I found myself walking towards the bench. I was almost drawn to them.

As I got closer, I saw that there was a small white note attached to them. It read: ‘Adopt me. ‘Where there is a woman, there is magic’. And I instantly felt like these flowers had to find me on a day when I needed them most.

Suddenly I had an overwhelming feeling that maybe it could be me. I did Subject. That my journey is not over and I have so much more to give.

Almost immediately, my mindset changed: the darkness surrounding me began to dissipate, and indeed on the train

I finally let my husband know where I was so he could pick me up.

When I got home, I hugged my children and continued to seek more help and support for the PND I was experiencing. It wasn’t easy but I’m glad I did it.

A few weeks later, I decided to contact the person who dropped off the flowers at the station; It was important to me that they knew how big an impact flowers made on me.

My bouquet was placed there during a wedding The florist called Sarah McCaig, owner of Olive Owl Flowers As a way to celebrate International Women’s Day.

As a way to communicate after the flowers were discovered, I found a note on the flowers with Sarah’s social media account information.

I reached him on social media and said: ‘I want you to know that your flowers saved my life, thank you.’ He said he was glad I chose to stay here and couldn’t believe the huge impact such a small act of kindness had.

We started chatting and we both realized we really wanted to do more and two weeks later we launched the #PetalsOfPositivity campaign.

The idea is for florists across the country to be located in train stations, local parks, bridges, bus stops, etc. It was placing bunches of free flowers where people could find them in public spaces such as.

Then our groups brighten someone’s day Feeling bad or hopeless. To remind me that better days are coming, just like the original band did for me.

Amazingly, 60 different florists have signed up since then and it’s an incredible feeling to know we’ve started something so special that we hope will make a difference.

We’ve been contacted by so many people who say flowers have brightened their day and if we can make a difference to even just one person it would be incredible.

But for us, it’s not just about spreading kindness and positivity: we also make sure we include notes on how people can access the support they need, such as help websites or numbers they can call for support. As a next step, we’d also love to chat about potential partnerships with charities.

I know firsthand that sometimes it’s hard to think rationally when you’re at rock bottom and dark thoughts take over. And it’s hard for friends and family to know how to help. My advice to you is to just be there.

Sometimes we need you to sit with us in the dark, and knowing that you are there with us is enough.

And while a bunch of flowers will almost certainly not solve all your problems (mental health is a complex topic and one that needs to be handled carefully), it’s a physical reminder that sometimes there is light at the end of the tunnel and that you can and will get it. through it is priceless.

I owe my life to Sarah and her bunch of flowers; My children still have a mother thanks to them. And that was the greatest gift anyone ever gave me.

As told to Cover Media’s Deborah Cicurel

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