One Great Thing
A recent challenge to think about a sanity-saving object has me pondering.
By sheer luck, I happen to have an excellent bed. For years, I got into bed every night, wiggled my toes in the crisp sheets, and announced, “I love my bed.” My husband mock-complained about my love for the bed. Now, every night I get into bed, wiggle my toes, and say, “I love my husband.” He says that he knows what I really mean.
One object can make life so much better.
A friend told me once that she strives for “one great thing.” A great shirt will transform black pants and simple shoes. A great piece of art makes the room special. A fantastic tour can make a whole vacation stand out.
Blogger Jennifer Louden inspired me recently, talking about an item that made her life easier. Carrying her full-to-the-top coffee every morning, she always spilled some. The gift of a tray saved her carpets and her sanity. She didn’t know how great it would be until someone gave it to her.
What would that object be for you? A relatively inexpensive thing that makes your day easier? Solves a problem that you’ve gotten used to? Transforms a routine from ordinary to notable?
Our home before this belonged to the church I served, and they very generously painted it for us before we arrived. I expected to have all white walls, and instead they asked for our color choices. My home office was red, and I never stopped being delighted by the color. It made the pandemic days of working at home so much brighter. (People in the know did tell me to stop talking about my Red Room. Ahem.)
What simple object would solve a current problem? I seem to always work in churches with heating and cooling issues. The summer heat means my work fantasy is always an ice machine. At home, a Nespresso machine seems too absurd, when I have a perfectly good coffee maker.
How about for you? What’s on your list?
One great object in my life is a painting by artist Roger Blair, similar to this one. It brings me happiness every day.
I grew up in a household in which my dad, brother, and I were not required to do anything in the kitchen. My mom and two sisters did all the work related to our meals. Never prepared a meal or even had to clean up. Never washed a dish or did any food shopping. When my mother asked, I gladly ran to the store to get what she wanted. Or when asked to hold the portable mixer when making mashed potatoes I never complained. After marrying, this lifestyle basically continued with no responsibility for anything related to the kitchen.
Then several years ago we decided to subscribe to one of these meal deals where the ingredients are shipped to you along with directions for proper preparation. We now receive three meals each week, and I am totally in charge. My wife orders the meals, but I do everything else. I've learned all the ins and outs of cooking, do the additional food shopping, and actually have become the family cook for all three meals, snacks, etc. In additional, I have gotten into baking - from cookies to bread to cakes - you name it. And now I'm into making jam. (Jim Jam it is called by our family & friends). I only wish I had had the same culinaary interest while my mom was still available to give her excellent advice.
I have an artisanal noodle bowl (yay functional art!) that I adore. It was more than I would normally pay for everyday dishes, but I use it regularly for all kinds of one-serving meals. It makes whatever I am eating feel more special. I also have a water glass and pitcher that are so pretty on my desk and encourage me to drink water throughout the day.