A woman looks back over her whole life and, in doing so, finds the reasons behind the small things she loves. Songs never sounded quite the same to her, orchids became her favorite flower, dancing felt natural, and singing made her smile. The poem treats these as clues. Each habit or preference seems to trace back to something that happened or something she chose along the way.
The speaker sounds calm and quietly thoughtful rather than sad or regretful. There's a gentle sense of discovery, as if the answers were there all along and only needed a pause to be noticed. Even the line about stopping to breathe suggests that slowing down is how understanding arrives.
The final line states the point plainly: our decisions shape who we are, even when we can't see it happening. The mood is reflective and warm, with a hint of comfort in realizing that our little joys have a story behind them.