Last week as I was contemplating the sadness that an empty nest has brought to some of the posse, Aesthetic Oiseau’s 2016: Year of Delight post serendipitously arrived on my Bloglovin’ feed. The talent behind this lovely blog, Daniela Shuffler, a Richmond girl now living in Northern Virginia, described of bit of delight that she found over the holidays at her mother-in-law’s home. A simple yet beautiful sugar spoon for her morning coffee awakened Daniela’s awareness to the joy of little delights that we can find and make daily.
I’m going into 2016 with that mindset. Make the little things delightful. The big stuff is hard to tackle. But can I pull out my pretty sugar spoon for morning coffee? Absolutely.If you, like me, are in the roof-over-your-head-food-on-your-table demographic, we have a lot to be thankful for. And the big resolutions are important as we all want to make the most of this blessed life we are living. So I’m setting some lofty goals, but I also want to set some small goals to achieve this afternoon.I’m looking for daily delight in 2016 for me and for my family. With an ever-present gratitude for what we have and what we can hope to have.-Daniela Shuffler
Even though Daniela and I are separated by about twenty years, we share a very similar aesthetic, though hers matured much earlier in life than mine did. Currently raising two precious toddlers, this UVA grad works full-time in web design and blogs about beautiful things in her very spare time. We share a love of chinoiserie, sumptuous tablescapes and monograms, and all things Caspari, and with seemingly similar attitudes about creating a beautiful life, I just know that we would be great next-door neighbors.
Daniela’s words immediately struck a chord as I recalled a lovely silver spoon sitting for so long untouched in my silverware drawer. This King Richard
piece was a bridesmaid gift from one of the first of my sorority sisters to get married. cKd wanted to share her pattern with her posse of attendants as a lovely remembrance of her white wedding, and inspired by Daniela, I realized it was time to resurrect, polish and start using that long-forgotten spoon.
piece was a bridesmaid gift from one of the first of my sorority sisters to get married. cKd wanted to share her pattern with her posse of attendants as a lovely remembrance of her white wedding, and inspired by Daniela, I realized it was time to resurrect, polish and start using that long-forgotten spoon.
After some elbow grease, this now shining utensil is perfect for adding a spoonful of honey to my homemade ginger tea. Just holding it fills me with fond memories of my old friend and fellow sorority sisters who shared their lives and love with me during my own college days. And from that thought, I am also reminded of my father’s despair when I flew the nest and am assured that my son’s departure is a necessary and natural phase of life.
Daniela’s idea also made me realize that sharing #dailydelights on Instagram could become an intentional practice of ever-present gratitude in recognizing the small joys that surround us daily. In fact this practice fits with my ALL IN resolution for 2016, as well: to be fully present and mindful as I go about all of the activities in my day. Since reading Daniela’s post, I have taken to posting #dailydelight photos on Instagram.
Why not join me? Use #dailydelights and @thegraciousposse to share with us the little things that bring you delight. Focusing on the little things may not solve the larger problems of the world or fill the void of lives departed, but it will remind us to be grateful for all the blessings of this life and how fortunate we truly are.
January 14, 2016
My (sometimes) daily gratitude journal holds the prime real estate spot on my bedside table. I recently enjoyed flipping through entries from years’ past….the journal is a very grounding practice, one that takes on even more meaning as time marches on (especially as the nest is 50% emptied). Thanks for your post!
What a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing this with us. As a fellow empty nester, I find great solace and comfort in your musings on our newfound state. Now, off to find my great grandmother’s demitasse spoons…
sjw
my daily delight is feeding the birds. In the morning, I watch them outside my breakfast room window. I buy good birdseed from Yardbirds and suet cakes from the hardware store or Kroger. The bluebirds and woodpeckers go crazy. love it!!!!!
I love Tuesday and Thursday mornings! I can always depend on a blip from you. Your blog is so inspirational! Please keep posting! I have forwarded many posts to my Norfolk posse and they have grown to love it as well.
Warm regards,
Cindy Wilson