29 October 2017

It Begins with a Question

Gemma-Rose and I gaze upon the flowers.

They’re pretty, bright, colourful, showy. A gorgeous backdrop for a photo. We raise our cameras.

Cameras down. We look around. There’s a Chinese gentleman. He’s standing in a garden bed erecting a parasol.

We ask a question: Why?

The man smiles. His eyes sparkle. Words tumble from his mouth: I’m sheltering the peonies – the imperial flower of China – from the warm Australian sun.

There’s more. We lean closer and listen. The man tells us about his vision: the blending of two cultures within his garden. He shares his passion.

Gemma-Rose and I behold the peonies.

They’re delicate, charming, graceful, elegant. An imposing backdrop for a photo. We raise our cameras.

It begins with a question. It ends with lives enriched by the sharing of a passion.

An unexpected connection on a warm Australian day.


When was the last time your life was enriched by the sharing of a passion?

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Sue Elvis

I'm an Australian blogger, podcaster, and Youtuber. I write and speak about unschooling, parenting and family life. I'm also the author of the unschooling books 'Curious Unschoolers', 'Radical Unschool Love' and ‘The Unschool Challenge’. You'll find them on Amazon!

7 Comments

    • Hamilton,

      I’m glad you enjoyed my little story. I was thinking about you as I wrote it. I know you meet all kinds of interesting people while you are out and about with your children. I bet you have listened many times while people have shared their passions with you. It’s a wonderful way to learn, isn’t it?

  1. I love that Sue, sounds like a conversation my son Nathan and I would have with a passing stranger on our nature walks. Lovely, I could totally picture it. Nancy

    • Nancy,

      You and Nathan sound just like us. We talk to everyone while we are out on our adventures. People are so interesting and it’s good to stop and exchange a few words and learn something new. Thank you for reading my story. I’m glad you stopped by. I hope you have a happy week!

  2. I love how in unschooling we have time for such questions, time to ask them and time for the types of activities that let the questions form in our minds.

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