A REFLECTION from Mimosa Pudica or "Touch-Me-Not"

During my childhood days, we used to see Mimosa Pudica growing wild on road side and barren land in the countryside. In fact, the above picture was taken along the sidewalk of the Buangkok Flyover in Singapore. In the picture, you might notice that some leaves have already folded. Those days, we liked to tickle the leaves and watch the very quick folding movement and they would magically reopen shortly after.

Mimosa Pudica is a very unique plant that would feel "shy" and its leaves have the folding capability when touched or exposed to heat or being shaken! That is why it is also called "Touch-Me-Not", "Shy Plant" or "Sensitive Plant". In Malaysia, it is called "Semalu". Don't try to pull them with your bare hands, it pricks because it has thorny stems. Mimosa Pudica is well known for its rapid movement. In the evening, the entire leaf will fold together and droop downward. At sunrise, it will reopen.

"Touch-Me-Not" seems to be the way many of us live and behave in a fast-paced and advanced society. When we come home from work, we just shut the door and lock ourselves within the four concrete walls, in fact, many don't even open their windows! Wait a minute! I am not talking about Microsoft Windows which I know most of us do. Do you know that through such a behaviour, we might be telling our neighbours, "Touch me not! Leave me alone, don't come and bother me, I am too stressed by my work, my bills are piling up, my children's education fees are not paid yet, I am facing some health challenges" and a host of other problems.

I think it will be good if we could learn to open up our hearts and even our home, be more neighbourly and more cheerful. At least, "Touch-Me-Not" opens up its leaves shortly after they close. Even though they close in the evening, they would open again at the next sunrise. Perhaps, Mimosa Pudica could give us some insight into how we can live and behave better!