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Use the Good Things
My grandmother lived through the "dirty thirties" on the Canadian prairies, where the wind blew the soil away and the crops died in the fields. Folks were poor back then and had little, for a long time.
Trials like that leave marks on people's souls and the effects are different for each one. My maternal grandmother, raising seven children in a two roomed house, had few things to make life pretty. What nice things she had, she didn't use. As the years went by and times improved, she still never used her good things. Beautiful sweaters that she received as gifts stayed in their wrapping in the closets, never worn. Pretty dishes stayed in the cupboards for years on end. She feared bad times coming again for the rest of her life and believed she had to hang on to them just in case.
She feared the return of those bad days her entire life, but they never did return in her lifetime. Sadly, all those beautiful things she hid away could have been enjoyed every day. Instead, after she died, they all came out of the closets and cupboards. When the givers of those pretty gifts discovered that their thoughtful gestures had not been appreciated, it made it doubly sad.
Trials like that leave marks on people's souls and the effects are different for each one. My maternal grandmother, raising seven children in a two roomed house, had few things to make life pretty. What nice things she had, she didn't use. As the years went by and times improved, she still never used her good things. Beautiful sweaters that she received as gifts stayed in their wrapping in the closets, never worn. Pretty dishes stayed in the cupboards for years on end. She feared bad times coming again for the rest of her life and believed she had to hang on to them just in case.
She feared the return of those bad days her entire life, but they never did return in her lifetime. Sadly, all those beautiful things she hid away could have been enjoyed every day. Instead, after she died, they all came out of the closets and cupboards. When the givers of those pretty gifts discovered that their thoughtful gestures had not been appreciated, it made it doubly sad.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Too often we make do without when abundance and beauty is right before our eyes. But it takes conscious attention to change how we see our lives, and to up-level our daily experiences. It's not difficult to do. It just requires believing that we deserve loveliness, and making simple choices as we go through our day.
Always use the good stuff
Whenever you can, always to use the good stuff.
- Use your fine china for your afternoon tea break.
- Throw out your threadbare towels and get some new fluffy ones. Use them every day.
- Wear your "nice" underwear.
- Serve week night dinners with your good dishes.
- Get out the scarf you love and wear it.
- Clean out all your unlovable mugs and replace them with new coffee mugs.
- Surround yourself with your favourite colours.
- Choose what makes you happy.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
In 2017, twelve members of my family and friends passed away, including my mother. Yes, it was a bad year. But good things happened too. In fact, lots of choices I made helped to make the year much brighter. I chose to brighten my own life with good things and it helped me get through some tough times. Making life pretty is a reminder that goodness and joy exist and are there within reach.
If you want to make your life pretty, there are so many things you can do. These suggestions are only a beginning.
If you want to make your life pretty, there are so many things you can do. These suggestions are only a beginning.
Hey Cupcake coffee mug available at Summer Bay Studio.
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