More than fifteen years ago, my wife and I sat in a sunlit shop choosing flowers for our wedding. The florist showed us many beautiful options.

And we said, “Ah. These are pretty. Oh, these are pretty, too. And these as well.”

After considering dozens of options, we finally realized: they’re flowers. They’re all pretty. We had to choose using another measure.

The lesson rings true years later. There are times in life when we have to choose from many good options, many qualified applicants, many attractive candidates. (We get to experience both sides of this.)

Inevitably, worthy candidates are turned away. Brilliant leaders, skilled artists, talented athletes, innovative change-makers ... like beautiful flowers: some are picked, some are not.

Of course, unlike flowers, we will have opportunities to pick ourselves. To give ourselves permission to start something new. To sidestep those who do the choosing, and to build something of our own.