Pink Think: “Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion.“ – Sarah Ban Breathnach
This past weekend, I helped a family member clean out her house. As we were going through her stuff, we came across a bucket filled with two glass flute glasses and two bottles of sparkling cider. She’d had them since spring, as a congratulatory gift for becoming an American citizen, but she had decided to save it for an even grander “special occasion”.
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These days, I read the news with worry and trepidation. It seems there is hardly anything to celebrate anymore. Sometimes I feel guilty deriving pleasure from simple things of beauty when people are losing their houses to foreclosure and their jobs to downsizing.
It seems to me it’s during the trying times that we need little reminders, like bottles of sparkling cider, that daily life is meant to be lived with joy and vivre…that we don’t need to wait for special occasions to celebrate.
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Later in the week, while setting the table for our family, I took out our “good china” from the cupboard.
They aren’t particularly expensive dishes, just some colorful ones that give me a lot of pleasure to look at and to use. We usually set them out only at parties or holidays.
My husband asked, “What’s the occasion?”
“Just because,” I replied, smiling.
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I was wondering, are YOU saving something for a special occasion? What is it?
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We have our champagne flutes from the wedding that we only use once a year, on our anniversary. 🙂 Other than that…I’m not goof at waiting..I’m the same way with gifts, I have to wait until the last minute to buy it otherwise I’ll get excited and give it to the recipient early. hehehe
Nice soap. I’m not kidding. One day, my grandchildren are going to empty my lingerie drawer and discover hundreds of bars of soap. Handmilled, homemade, goat milk, funny shaped – I just love the way the flowery smells mingle and greet me as I start the day.
To actually have them touch common water? Well, maybe today is the day.
Em
I can’t think of any one material item I’m holding back, but there are plenty of circumstances I’m waiting to “align” so I can proceed with certain steps toward my dreams.
So true. Life needs to be lived and celebrated! And taking pleasure in the simplest of things is exactly how to get through the tough times. 🙂
I love good china days at my parents – it usually means it’s a good food day as well! We didn’t register for fancy China, but I am hanging on to some lipliner, waiting for just the right event!
i have to say, i don’t save anything for special occasions. i tend to use what i have and make them all as good as i can. maybe that’s weird…
Hmm…I don’t think so. I don’t tend to save things…I like the here and now!
🙂 hehehehe this is going to sound cheesy….. 🙂
I have been saving my first kiss for the right time, and a special occasion. 🙂
Some watermelon flavored Extra gum that I just haven’t had time to chew yet.
Great reminder that we can make anytime be a special occasion. Me – I have some specialty beers that I usually save for special occasions. This past weekend, though, I had one of them – for no particular reason at all. It tasted great! And was well worth it!
My friend Chrystal brought me this gorgeous necklace from Mexico and I only used to wear it when we were together and my boyfriend brought me a necklace too that I wear when I’m thinking of him or we go out together 🙂
Celeste xx
I save all my games on Playstation. So I can go back and remember the fun times we had together.
I’m getting all nostalgic now – I think there’s something in my eye – gotta go…
Oh wow!! I am SOOOO getting the good china out tonight :D. Just because!
You’re right. We hardly ever celebrate! Time to celebrate the little things!
I have some expensive china that has been used twice in the last 22 years. Oh well. I guess it will be in good condition when my niece inherits it.
I am not really good at waiting on something I have immediately available. I am saving money for a honeymoon I never got. We will take it on our 5 year anniversary!
Thank you for stopping by, you dont even want to know the depths of my Hello Kitty obsession 😛
My first mom in law had a lovely china set. A present from her wedding. In a nice box all packed and safe. 20+ years later it was still all new, safe and packed in a box. She never had the pleasure of enjoying it. My husband at the time (her son) and I decided it was not to be repeated. So we had dinner every night on that lovely pink and white china set. When we went our seperate ways he gave me that china set as a gift to always know that the good things are for ever day. We used that china til I lost it in a house fire. One piece survived. It is now on display instead of used. But I have a new china set. And yes we use it.
THE GOOD THINGS ARE FOR EVERYDAY TO ENJOY!
This is the second post along these lines that i have read and I’ll admit I’m really bad about waiting. Meaning I spend my life doing it. I’m really trying hard to stop waiting or at least enjoy the wait. But it’s hard!
Dorsey, on the gifts, you’re like my mom 🙂
Em: Hey, I saw you got the basket of books at SITS. Congrats!! *Soap* interesting collection 🙂
Janna: I can see the stars lining up…good luck!
Heather: Yes, there’s so much to be thankful for!
Rachel: I love eating at my mom’s house, too :-).
Momma and Colby: Good for you!
Laurel: Oh, that’s sweet :-). And not cheesy at all.
Q: D’you know, I just had to chew gum when I saw your comment 🙂
Lance: Sometimes *for no particular reason* is the best reason of all.
Sweetchic: What a nice tradition:-)
BPV: Nothing like a Playstation game to sustain you through hard times :-). (I’m still in a time warp. I would love a Ms. Pac-Man if I could own a game.)
Swift: Enjoy!
PW: Well at least they got used 🙂
Mommyhood: Yay, have fun! And YOU don’t even want to know the details of my Hello Kitty obsession :-).
Lynette: Yes!
Alison: I hear you. 🙂
Cooking for the family.
I know it sounds wierd, but I cook for the family so rarely nowadays, that when I do, it’s considered a very special occasion.
No, I can’t really think of anything I save for special occasions only. I buy things I like and then I use them. I’m not the special occasion kind of gal. What’s good for the guest is even better for me:-)
I like your china. They’re cheerful looking. Perfect for brightening up a party. I’m thinking of getting me some in those colors. I’m such a copycat, ain’t I? 🙂
Georgie: Hey, that’s great you do!
Marivic: Great to see you :-). *What’s good for the guest is even better for me* great philosophy! Yes, these plates are kind of fun…they don’t even match colors, that’s part of the charm. I hope you find some that will bring you pleasure!
Wow Pink Ink, I loved this post. Got me to thinking. Ah yes, I have lots of nice crystal and china packed away. Not sure what I am saving it for…I’ll have to hunt for it and use it.
thanks for the reminder!
Hey Pink Ink,
Your post struck a note with me, because I have a habit of saving things. I have two wrapped cakes of expensive lavender soap that someone gave my mom about four years ago, and since she’s dead now, I don’t want to use them.
I have a pretty notebook with pages of recycled paper that I think were made with flowers, and I don’t want to use that either. Which I know is silly – you can’t take that kind of thing with you. I must try to find some kind of special occasion and actually use these things.
Knowing you, CJ, I’m sure you can come up with a good excuse for digging out the good china :-).
Marian: Well, some things are just too pretty or sentimental to use up, aren’t they? :-). I collect notebooks, too. I have a few on a shelf or in a box that I’ve used up maybe a page or two just coz they caught my fancy at one time.
Hello! Thanks for popping by my blog, fellow pursuer of happiness.
I love that quote – it’s so true that we shouldn’t wait for life’s obvious special occasions to celebrate and enjoy our “best things”, especially when there seems like there is little joy in life. It’s an easy way to give ourselves a little boost.
I have a bottle of champagne in my pantry that I’m saving for a special occasion…I had hoped I’d pop the cork if I got engaged to my boyfriend but now I’m single again. Oh well. Does champagne go off? 😉
Hi Glee Girl. Nice to see you here :-). Sorry it didn’t work out. Maybe you should celebrate anyway! 🙂