Over the weekend I was watching a old family slide show about our camping trip to Alaska many years ago. We traveled with another family who had been friends with my parents since their college days – so we used the titles of Aunt and Uncle to recognize that special relationship. In some of those slides were pictures that included “Aunt Joan” and I recalled that many years ago, she shared with me her advice to use your best silverware every day.
Her thought on this was twofold: First, each day should be considered a special day and we should celebrate by using those items that help reinforce our conscious recognition of this idea. Second, those items that we label as “best” were often received as gifts or handed down by close family and friends, so using these tangible things can be warm reminders of their presence in our lives.
Maybe pulling out the entire silver set seems pretty impractical on those busy days as we rush in and out the door. But how about using the place settings for family dinners on the weekend – or pulling out one spoon to stir the morning coffee? Or perhaps selecting a special pottery mug to use for our morning beverage of choice…..and starting the day with appreciation for the gift giver?
We can also extend the same use to other items we usually tend to save for a special occasion and end up never using at all due to daily oversight – such as a silk scarf, neck tie, sweater, dress, jewelry, hat, or other accessory.
I believe Aunt Joan’s advice is a nudge to help remind me that we need to appreciate the everyday blessings we receive and to enjoy them in the moment……as we all know how quickly our good lives can be changed by both temporary and longer term events.
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