It’s sitting on the desk beside me, stealing my attention, shifting my focus.

It’s not so much its beauty, but yes it is a striking deep pink worthy of adoration.

Rather, it’s the story behind it. 

Where has it come from? 

Who thought to leave it on my desk? 

Why?

This beautiful boxed cyclamen with a big green bow appeared on my desk yesterday. 

I returned to the office after a meeting, and there it was.

No note. No one knew who left it, or when. 

And if they did, they weren’t saying.

So as I try yet again to find inspiration for my weekly ramble, it sits there watching me – trying to tell me something.

And it makes me smile. 

How can I possibly write a hard-hitting column about a serious issue this week when a pretty box of flowers is softly whispering for me to slow down. 

To stop and daydream. It’s telling me it’s time for a rest. 

Time to be where I am happiest, and that is wrapped in the arms of mother nature and all her elements.

How can I find inspiration elsewhere when there it is, right in front of me – that beautiful gift of an anonymous box of flowers.

That gift that says stop, take a deep breath and smell the roses.

Did you know the cyclamen is often given as a holiday gift?

I discovered that while looking up fact sheets on how to best care for this surprise.

It’s coincidental the plant turned up on my desk as I’m about to take a few days off and enjoy a short break with the girls during the school holidays.

The other thing I learnt is that a cyclamen requires very little care, which is probably a good thing because apart from my children and the dog, I’m not much good at keeping things alive. 

It will probably send me a bit silly wondering how the beautiful cyclamen made its way to my desk – mostly because I can’t say thank you.

Thank you to a person who is a reminder of how beautiful people are.

We are surrounded each and every day by good and kind people. 

People who only want the best for others; who spread joy and warmth and love.

And they do it expecting little in return.

The Bendigo Advertiser and 3BO have just finished Random Acts of Kindness month and we’ve heard many truly heartwarming stories of people doing special things for others out of the goodness of their hearts.

And this is one of them –another example of someone doing something so beautiful for another for which there are no words.

To that anonymous person, a very big thank you, may you be the recipient of something equally lovely that brings a smile to your face.

Nicole Ferrie is the Bendigo Advertiser’s deputy editor. Email Nicole.ferrie@fairfaxmedia.com.au