Many years ago I visited Vienna, Austria. We walked through the town on a cool Fall day. I felt the town was so inviting. there was sense of classiness, style, and charm in the shops. People sat in the coffee shops with their dogs at their feet. I remember the lovely bunches of flowers at a floral shop. The flowers flowed onto the sidewalks. I was so taken back by the fragrances and colors that I bought a bouquet for the night we were there. The memories from that trip are still bringing me joy.
In the last few years I decided I wanted that same feeling of having fresh flowers in my office and in our kitchen at home. In the spring there are lilacs, lilies of the valley, and the first tulips from our yard, but after that it is pick or miss. I began buying carnations. They live for a longer period of time and seem to come in so many pretty colors. Some are natural, while others are dyed, but I love them all. Even my husband said how much he enjoys them.
So this morning I got my bunch of carnations for home for the week. Later I plan to buy some for the office. But why am I writing about flowers?
Well I think we all put our small delights on hold. We forget how much color helps us stay happy. We forget how sweet the smell of fresh flowers can be for our spirits. In winter, I will often go into a floral shop just to feel life. The poinsettias are filled with the vibrancy of the season and the passion that Christmas brings to us.
So what are some of the small things that bring life to you? Maybe it is walking into a concert hall to hear the music echo throughout? Maybe it is the silence of sitting in a brightly light room filled with sunshine. I love the sound of chirping birds whether they are outside sitting at our waterfall or the singing parakeets in a home.
The smallest things can bring us the most joy. Today is Halloween and the cute small children all excited about dressing up is a thrill. It is the delight of them getting candy and the joy of the season. Even the crunchy sound of leaves under our feet can bring back cheerful moments of raking leaves and roasting marshmellows. So “Delight in Living” and enjoy all the moments today.