The back of my stove is pretty cluttered these days. Currently in residence is a very large bottle of olive oil, a bottle of red wine vinegar, a bottle of caramel-flavored coffee syrup, two pepper mills, a sea salt grinder, a saltshaker, and a box of peppermint tea.
Oh, and we mustn’t forget the hand-painted wooden sign behind all of this that reads Fresh Brewed Coffee: 10¢ per cup. (In all fairness, I sometimes offer a discount to friends and family.)
I guess it’s cluttered! And no, you don’t need a photo.
Most of these items have been placed there “temporarily” (snort) as I was cooking and just need to be returned to their permanent homes. I am proud to report, however, that the peppermint tea belongs there.
On the back of the box is a list of 8 ways to add joy to your daily life. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (the author of Life’s Little Instruction Book) penned the list originally, and I am most thankful he permitted Celestial Seasonings tea to share it.
Does it really matter if I’ve burnt the eggs when I am meditating on the following?
1. Pay as much attention to the things that are working positively in your life as you do to those that are giving you trouble.
2. Rake a big pile of leaves everyfall and jump in it with someone you love.
3. Memorize your favorite love poem.
4. Learn three knock-knock jokes so you will always be ready to entertain children.
5. Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams.
6. Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.
7. Regardless of the situation, react with class.
8. Let some things remain mysterious.
My personal favorites are numbers 1, 6 and 7. Speaking as a woman who keeps a blog, though, I have no comment about that number 8.
Happy Monday, everyone! Enjoy your shortened work week.
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
Ooh, I like 1, 6, and 7 too. Personally, I think 8 is overrated.
Yes, I agree with you – and Karen it seems. And I’m sort of craving caramel flavored coffee now. 🙂
I love your blog!
I”ll be adding you to my blogroll!
http://peaceandquiet.wordpress.com/
I love these too! I think I would be overcome by so much if I didn’t heed rule #1 (or at least try to).
Thanks for sharing these little words of wisdom!
#7 — words to live by.
I had a chance to enjoy #2 today with our oldest and instead balked at him to get off the leaf tarp! Oh no… 🙁 Thankfully there are plenty of leaves around to redeem myself! Thanks for inspiring me today, Margaret. 🙂
You’ve been awarded the Spirit of Christmas award. Stop by my blog for details: Spirit of Christmas
Oh… this is a WONDERFUL list! I think #6 and #7 are my favorites, but the other ones are fantastic as well.
We’re leaving in a few hours on what will be a 9 hour car drive with a toddler who doesn’t like his car seat . . . I think I’ll try #4 (my middle son has this most infectious laughter; just get him going and we’re all off roaring with laughter!), but I think I need a heavy dose of #7 to survive the trip. God bless, and Happy Thanksgiving.