I’ve been thinking about how much we ‘save things for best’ in our lives, when we could actually be enjoying them right now.
My parents have cutlery and crockery that only comes out on ‘special occasions’ {ie. almost never}. I have just done a wardrobe cull {making space for the new!} and discovered that the clothes I hardly ever wear because they are only for smart or for parties could be things I integrate into my everyday wardrobe and add an extra je ne sais quois to it! They are wasted hanging in the dark, just like my parents’ dining sets.
You can’t take it with you, right?
I actually wrote a poem about this recently when I had a sudden moment of clarity that ‘one day’ might very easily never come. {Obvious, of course, but sometimes the realisations are sharper than usual.}
And I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I wait for things, like love for example, when I could easily and instantly be giving it to myself in any number of ways {and, according to the Law of Attraction, draw it to me that much more quickly too}.
In a synchronicity that no longer surprises me, I read an article yesterday via The Daily Love by Christine Hassler, called Wear Your Good Underwear. Christine makes the same point {and more eloquently than I do}; what are we waiting for?!
I really don’t know! But I for one will be wearing my black lace dress {I’m thinking with jeans and pumps for starters}, using my new special turquoise pen {for shopping lists if I feel like it} and painting with my expensive paints a lot more often, starting today. High five to that.
it’s today
There’s something I’d like to do.
A secret dream {or two},
living in my pocket.
It shines
from all the times
I took it out
to cherish it,
look forward to it,
relish it,
careful not to drop it.
My beautiful dream.
So big and so small.
One day I’ll do it, be it, have it, see it.
One day.
But wait, she said.
When is one day?
That fictional, distant, horizon-shaped day
when the stars will align
in just the right way?
That day never comes
my darling. Don’t wait.
‘One day’ is always
one step away,
it’s just a delay.
One day
is
today.
Tara this is a beautiful, beautiful poem. And it is so very, very true. I came to this realization first when my mother died. And then 2 years later my sister died and I ended up with so many of their things and wondered “why were they saving these?” Then when breast cancer came calling 6 years ago I was glad I was already on my way to realizing what matters…true, sometimes I “forget” and I get caught up in doing the same old, same old…same old clothes, same old dishes…and then I’ll have a moment of revelation and think – I am too special and too worthy to let that “sit”. My family deserve to have the best china out today. You’ve done us all a favour in reminding us that one day just might very well be “this” day! xo
You said it, Tara! I’m totally with you on that! Let’s see WHY that paint is more expensive now: let’s use it!
What a wonderful poem. Sums up just what you are talking about and I so agree with not saving things ‘for best’! You go girl – use all that wonderful stuff you accumulate – tomorrow’s yesterday IS TODAY!!!
x
Absolutely. I recently culled my wardrobe too. And sadly, had to bag up for the charity shop some beautiful clothes, barely worn because they were ‘for best’ and now sadly will never be worn as now mid 40’s and post baby (well, six years now), I will never be able to diet myself into them. Fact.
So, as my mother said once ‘you are a long time dead’. I will be wearing my best, using my best, and stop ‘keeping for best’.
Lorrie x
YES! Totally agree. It’s good to be reminded of this…
So beautiful Tara – one day is today! High five back atcha. Thanks for this message. We are having a party this weekend to celebrate our return home. The house is not perfect and we’re still in disarray, but we want to have people over, so we are!!
I love this!! I used to keep all my lovely vintage dresses for ‘special occasions’, which just set them up on a pedestal really. I wore one for my birthday BBQ last year, the spell was broken, and I wore it loads after that to the pub, the supermarket, anywhere. And I got complimented on it! Now it feels everyday, but that’s so much better because at least I wear it now. And it won’t go the way of other items, i.e. never worn until eventually it doesn’t fit anyway… That’s the worst!! Life is for living.
Your poem is amazing, and I want it on my wall as an illustrated print!! xxx
Love the poem… and this post. xxx