A friend of mine suggested I write about wildflowers since Spring has sprung. I went for a walk for inspiration and took some pictures. Most of the wildflowers near my house are brittlebush. They are blooming in abundance here in the desert. I don’t know who named it “brittlebush,” but the word “brittle” must have something to do with it.
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “hard but liable to break or shatter easily.” As an aging woman at risk of osteoporosis, my first thought is of bones. The word “brittle” is applied to more than the physical, though.
We sometimes label someone’s personality as brittle. The Internet (no specific source given) describes a brittle personality as “lacking warmth, sensitivity, or compassion.” I worked with a woman like that years ago. I found her difficult to get along with, and that was unusual for me.
When encountering people like this, I think we should remember both definitions of the word. Perhaps their lack of warmth comes from being hurt. Maybe they are afraid of emotional pain. It just may be that they are “hard but liable to break easily.” I’ve said this before, but I remind myself often: just because someone doesn’t show their feelings, it doesn’t mean they don’t have them.
Just like the bush, brittle can be beautiful. We just might have to look a little deeper.
