Flowers bring such joy!

When I was a college student and feeling particularly unmotivated, I would scrape together loose change and stop by the grocery store for as many fresh stems of daisies, daffodils, or tulips as I could afford. They instantly brightened my spirits and encouraged me to study.

When my children were young, I would often place a few colorful blossoms in their bedrooms. I may have secretly hoped it would nudge them to clean their rooms, but I really just wanted to remind them of the beauty in the world.

I nearly always had a few fresh flowers on my classroom desk. I feel certain the flowers had a positive effect on my students. Some came to realize I tossed the nearly-spent blooms on Fridays and would gather round my desk at the end of the day. It always made me smile when I saw a student walking home with one of my flowers in hand.

My sweet husband often surprises me with a big bouquet of beautiful flowers for no reason at all, but I don’t have any qualms about buying them for myself. I bring home an inexpensive bunch of grocery store flowers at least once a month.

Sometimes I keep them in one glorious mass, but more often I mindfully arrange them into a few small vases to place all around the house. It’s the process I enjoy, as much as the result.

Particularly during the winter, fresh flowers are a lovely way to brighten our spaces and remind us that hope springs eternal. The next time you stop by the store, go ahead and spend a few extra bucks on a small bouquet. Whether you put them on your desk at work or your kitchen counter, they are sure to bring happiness and inspiration.

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson

Think On These Things ~ Alicia