Since I moved, I had forgotten how important it is to treat yourself to the things that fill your life with beauty and color. Last week, on an especially dreadful, rainy, windy day, I had to get out to buy milk. When I entered the store, I almost fell over a display of potted blue, or should they be called light leafy purple, flowers. They are almost the same color as my twenty years old raincoat, that is so thin and so unable to keep the rain out, that I picked one up to decorate my cart. I could always put it back on its beautifully arranged table, if I bought more than just milk.
Impulse buying is a dangerous thing, especially if you are hungry or cold or wet. I was all three, but with the plant in my cart, I could withstand a lot of temptations. I walked by my favorite butcher, with no more than a friendly nod. I slowed down slightly by the bakery, after I had picked up the milk. And then I filled myself with the thought that I could walk by the Deli section without any risk, but the cheese table and the sushi called to me. I was after all COLD and WET, and these things would only deplete my money, they would do little to weigh me down. After I park the car in the garage, I have a fairly long walk back to my place and a flight of seven stairs to go down and I have to always think of maneuvering my groceries down. And since it was dark and cold and slippery I passed up the goodies and headed straight to the checker of my choice.
When I got into the house and had shed my wet raincoat I turned on a few more lights. And then I put the plant on the coffee table. Such Glory! There was a very offending tag on the purple paper covering the pot. I pulled it off and threw it in the garbage can. And got a saucer to put under it. I turned on a few more lights. To heck with the green ideas. I poured the required milk in my casserole and put my dinner in the oven. I poured myself a drink and sat down to watch the news. LIFE CAN BE BEAUTIFUL.
14 comments:
it's so hard to resist impulse buying but i like your idea a lot better than mine when i grab something i shouldn't.
i should buy more plants. they'd do well in the house until the weather gets nice.
I read "seven flights of stairs" instead of a "flight of seven stairs." I was simply amazed and wondered at you being in an apartment at, perhaps, the bottom of a cliff! And, my...what good shape you must be in! Then, I read it again. Heh.
Flowers are my impulse buy... something as simple as a small pot of African Violets can cheer the day. They are usually the least expensive as well. In the spring there are more types and colors to choose. If we lived closer, I would venture a visit to share a drink with you and bring you more flowers!
People who choose to be happy live longer. You are living proof of that. Of course it could be your pets too. People with pets usually live happier, longer lives. Or maybe its the blueberries you eat. Or the fact that you regularly go up and down those 7 stairs. Or keep your mind sharp playing bridge and keeping up with technology.
*Maybe* its the combination of all those things! You're a shining example of how to get the most out of LIFE.
The joy of flowers!
The joy of flowers!
Here it is the time of the tulips coming to us in Sweden from Holland and the grocery stores keep them right in front of the entrance so they arethe first items you see when you enter the store. It feels like they are telling about spring in a couple of months and that life will be easier.
That is so nice, that you were able to feel good with a plant. :)
I plan to buy something yellow to put on the stairs until the sun is strong enough to warm the air.
Sounds like a wonderful impluse buy. Must better than the chocolate that I usually end up with if I go to the store hungry.
Nothing like a pot of flowers on a wet grey day!
You bring up such a good point--that a small thing of beauty can make one's day so much more bearable. Thank you for reminding me of the small, important things. <3<3 Your entries are always so inspiring.
I'm really enjoying your writing. Thank you for posting and sharing your thoughts.
It is so wonderful that you are able to appreciate all of the small beautiful things in life. It brings joy to my heart.
and you inspired me to buy a little bulb in a pot, about to bloom. It's blooming, and filling the room with its scent.
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