PAUSE – 16.07 – Simple Pleasures
Reflection: When my dear Aunt Eileen moved from her large home in Edmonton into a small assisted living apartment here in Saskatoon, I took her a small bouquet of flowers – just a couple of blossoms in a tiny glass vase.
She loved that vase and it held a place of honor on the coffee table in her new living room.
On my regular visits I brought fresh blossoms to replace the ones that were past their prime.
That vase and its flowers were a Small Treasure that delivered a Simple Pleasure.
I learned the value of small but wonderful from my parents. Each year my father made a pilgrimage to the patch of prairie where he knew the first blooms of spring would appear. Each year he placed a small bowl of fuzzy purple crocuses on the kitchen table – a gift to Mom from Dad and Mother Nature.
As spring turned into summer, and the flowers in the garden burst into bloom, my mother regularly harvested handfuls of blossoms (nasturtiums, calendula, poppies, pansies).
She placed these nosegays and posies in small vases scattered on counters, shelves and window ledges throughout the house. More small treasures that delivered simple pleasure!
There is, of course, an impact to grand gestures – a massive bouquet of roses, a humongous box of chocolates, a month long adventure in Europe.
Still, there is every bit as much joy – or more – in admiring one perfect rose, savoring one perfect chocolate covered cherry, or basking in the morning sun in your own backyard.
Action: The good news is that small treasures and simple pleasures don’t take up much space, and they needn’t take much money.
Often, they’re simply a matter of noticing what moves through our lives each day. That means they’re far more accessible than the occasional grand gesture.
What simple pleasures bring you joy? Make a place for them in your world today.
Quotes Of The Week: A nice warm shower, a cup of tea, and a caring ear may be all you need to warm your heart. – Charles F. Glassman
The first wildflower of the year is like land after sea. – Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Springtime flowers bloom like colorful arrows piercing their way to the sun. – Terri Guillemets
Resource Of The Week: If you need a bit more inspiration, here’s a starter list of 75 Simple Pleasures to Brighten Your Day.
Special Pauseworks Studio Event: Sunday, March 20th is the first day of spring here on the prairies.
To celebrate, I’m hosting a Simple Pleasures – Small Treasures art show and sale featuring framed original ink and watercolor sketches inspired by this theme.
This is your personal invitation to join in a celebration of spring and a tribute to the small but good things in life.
Join in person or tour and shop via the Virtual Gallery. This Special Events page features:
- all the details on the ‘live’ event
- a link to the Virtual Gallery
- instructions on how to make your purchases from a distance.
Hope to see you there!
Tags: appreciation, art, attitude, delight, focus, inspiration, motivation, painting, Pat Katz, Patricia Katz, pause, Pauseworks Studio Gallery, perspective, Saskatoon, spring, watercolor