“A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.” -Marianne Williamson

A month before my target launch for the book, I still did not have a cover. I only had one idea in mind – it would be a simple cover with plain text – like Malcolm Gladwell’s books.

A good friend of mine, Regie, who has always been supportive with my passion projects and who has blessed me tremendously with his craft, sent me a study for the cover of the book.

When I received the artwork in my e-mail, I was dumbfounded.

This was it. I didn’t know what this fully meant, but I knew in my heart that this was the cover of my book. 

Despite its simplicity, the artwork had so many facets in it. The tulip (its meaning I will share in a while), the crosses that are in the text and the fading leaf. I did not give any directions to Regie but somehow, it encapsulated the soul of this book.

THE TULIP

When I researched about the symbolism of this flower, this is what I found. It resonated with me so much that it moved me to tears. It was just the perfect flower for my cover.

• Perfect, enduring love between partners or family members
  • The love I have for my family is unconditional and knows no bounds. 
• Undying passionate love, whether the passion is spurned or returned
  • The love I have for my angel babies would never die
• Abundance, prosperity, and indulgence
  • The journey to acknowledging the abundance the Universe has to offer was introduced to me this year and it could not have been more timely
• Charity and supporting the less fortunate
  • The book was intended to support my dream to build an APAS Foundation

It was later on that I realised that this flower plays a significant role in my life – why? Because it was my wedding flower!!! How could I forget??! The synchronicity of it all was just amazing.

THE CROSSES

There are apparent crosses – the small one and the big one – both representing my two little Bastis whom I have lost. The journey to losing them has been painful but sometimes, our biggest crosses bring out the light that we can share to the world. I love the quote, “Turn your pain into purpose,” and this is what this journey has taught me – with the cross not only being a symbol of sacrifice, but of redemption.

THE FADING LEAF

Life is fleeting. In an instant, we can lose the things or people most important to us. That is the reason why we have to live mindfully. To share to the world what we have as much as we can, for as long as we can. Let us make a little space of heaven on this earth, especially to grieving mothers and women wanting to hold a little baby in their arms.

I have prayed for the cover of this book, and like many of my prayers, this has been answered. What I believe in now is a testament of this promise –

Ask and it shall be given to you. – Matthew 7:7 NIV

I pray the same for you.

P.S. You can buy the book here. Thank you for supporting this passion project.

Love,