Perhaps you know it, too? That list from Erma Bombeck, “If I Had My Life To Live Over”. I love it. So much wisdom. I’m sure we can each come up with our own list. The one of Erma’s that I always remember is : “I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.” I can envision that candle, how beautiful it must have been, baby pink for sure, perhaps even how carefully it had been wrapped to place in storage. My parents had a similar sculpted candle. I think they were all the rage back in the day. They were peeled really to reveal different layers, often several shades of the same colour. Too pretty to burn. In time my parents’ candle faded and I think the outer wax cracked. Years later it was thrown out but it had long lost its beauty before then and had been pushed to the back of the china cabinet. So I left yesterday’s blog pondering whether to use one of my treasured patchouli soaps as my next bathroom hand soap. Could I? I’ve had one in my underwear drawer for 18 months and one on my headboard for a few years. I know that seems unusual but I so love the scent of it. Well, I did it. I chose the Summer of Love one from Arizona and I’ve used it all day. It lathers beautifully and smells divine, leaving a faint scent of patchouli on my hands afterwards. I’ve been home all day so have used it lots and walked around the house and yard sniffing my hands! So many things in my life that I’ve squirreled away, that I deem too pretty/ precious/ unique/ irreplaceable or that I consider myself too unworthy at the moment to use. Ouch. That one hurts but I realise it’s true if I really dig deep. Waiting for the right conditions. Seriously what are the right conditions? Today is as good a day as any simply because I’m here and breathing. I get saving some things, perhaps having a box of comfort things for hard days, but in general, why deny myself the pleasure of using something special on a daily basis?
I understand that it can stem from poverty or scarcity thinking but how many things do I have around the house or hidden away that I don’t actually use or fully appreciate for fear of not ever being able to replace them? Or it not being a special enough occasion to use them? Or me not feeling important enough that day? What are my sculpted rose candles? What are yours? Do you have any? Today using the patchouli soap felt luxurious. It’s rippled like a washboard, too which amuses me no end and feels delightful in my hands. Just the right size. Using it created a small shift in upping my level of self-compassion and self-care and enforcing my faith in the future. The soap is soft, lots of palm and coconut oil I think. It may not last long and I may not be able to replace it for a very long time, if ever. But does that matter? Something else just as luscious can replace it. On my soap dish. Day 2 of Effy Wild’s September Artfully Wild Blogalong
8 Comments
Erma Bombeck! I loved reading everything she wrote! And that is who taught me to use the good stuff! Some of my friends have commented to me that they love that I USE my things. That is what they are there for! Use up those wonderful soaps! I know my kids are not interested in what makes my life happy and what I use. So it will all go to some thrift store when I am gone, or my friends. It is nice to be able to say....I have used it up!
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Angela F
9/3/2021 01:31:17 am
That is very true - we all have a stash of things around our house - I think we are all learning this last couple of years that it's time we enjoyed what we have while we have it. Big hugs and great read.
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9/3/2021 08:03:01 am
"Today is as good a day as any simply because I’m here and breathing."
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Renee
9/3/2021 09:44:25 am
I LOVED Erma Bombeck. I have always wanted to be the Erma of my generation. I adore that you used the soaps. Life is a special occasion. Use it all! xx
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OMG those candles I remember them, I had pretty ones, wierd ones and even a banana shaped one (dont ask!) and yes they all melted before i used them, because they were all too pretty to use. I try NOT to do that so much now, If i have something its to be used, im not great at it, but i do try. I recently put somethings out to charity that i never use or wear, and my step daughter ( many sizes smaller than me) has pinched them all so we still have them in the house!!
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Mol
9/3/2021 04:52:07 pm
I love that you used your soap it sounds divine. I loved the line "why not use something special on a daily basis". I love this so much.
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Linda F.
9/4/2021 12:37:32 pm
And I have just started burning a beeswax candle
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AuthorWelcome! I'm Sue Blott: a writer of all things, a poet at heart, mom, wife, daughter, step-mom, grandma, tea drinker, tai chi-er, mystic, artist, dreamer...and now a blogger! This is my world. Categories |