coffee + cre8tive [apr 18 06]
There's so much beauty to be found in the simple things. A daffodil. Freshly sharpened colored pencils. A squeeky rubber ducky that makes your little one giggle. Always find joy in the little things. That's what my mother taught me as we walked in the woods behind our house to collect flowers to bring home to our rock garden, where we spent hours digging and talking girl talk. We'd lay on our backs in the grass looking up at the night sky chatting about the meaning of life, boys, and my day at school. She'd take me to the coast after school where we'd run with our dogs, or sometimes when I had a school holiday, we'd go go to the shore in the middle of the night to watch the sea turtles as they arrived to lay their eggs, hundreds of them dragging themselves onto the shore. It was magical there beneath the night sky. Most of all, I remember her hand in mine when I needed it the most.
I think of the simple things my father did, too. Sending me flowers when I broke my leg. Handing me $10 'just because' and taking me to my favorite book store to spend it. Bringing me to visit his office where I'd sip chocolate milk and watch him work on his blueprints for hours. Letting me sit on the top deck along the toe rail of our boat so I could stare into the water at the jellyfish. Making Saturday morning breakfast together, complete with grits and pancakes. Simple things always made me so happy. I can't imagine life any other way. I'm sure you're the same, or else you wouldn't be reading this. So, what about you? What do you remember as you look backwards, what simple pleasures brought you the most joy?
(photos from the beautiful cardamon designs, who feature lovely personalized cards for home or business.)