I had forgotten, you see, the importance…
Of being extra good to oneself.
Like, going to the store just to buy flowers.
And on the way, stopping for more candles.
Buying flowers for yourself, for no reason at all, is one of the bestest things.
If I do say so myself.
Something curious always happens when I am looking at flowers to buy.
Someone asks if it's my birthday.
If I am going to a party.
Last year a man came up to me and asked me if anyone had told me lately that I was beautiful.
I almost fell over.
I didn't feel beautiful at all.
I think he was an angel, because when I looked up from trying to control my crimson face, he was gone.
But what I really think it is, is the glow of happiness due to buying flowers for no reason, that illuminates the face.
I got roses and carnations.
The cashier asked me if I was giving them to someone special.
I said yes, myself.
Which was kind of odd to say, but neat too.
She scoffed a little.
Then she said, both bouquets?
And I said, indeed!
Then she said, maybe I am weird, but I would never buy myself flowers.
It's too frivolous.
And, they just die.
I guess, I am just weird, she said again.
And I said, well, it's all perception because I love dry flowers and save them.
Save them?! She exclaimed.
Oh no, I don't like junk in my house she said.
I smiled and said, I love junk.
Well, enjoy your flowers she said.
I said, I sure will, you should try it sometime.
And I smiled at her.
Hoping and wishing, that possibly maybe, she might buy herself some flowers.
Such a lovely thing.
Especially in winter.
When the garden is asleep.
Put on some music, separate them.
Light candles.
Just be in the moment.
No stress, no worries.
Just a little time for oneself.
And, better than that, a little love for oneself.
I have a friend who used to love cleaning her house, putting on the Gypsy Kings, lighting candles.
We both love candles.
Then she stopped.
And I asked her why?
She said, I don't know, kind of in a sad tone.
Then she said, I must do this again.
I think we just forget sometimes, in the busy days of life, to be kind to our most important love.
Our self.
You.
Me.
I know that I am enjoying my candy pink carnations and roses like mad.
Maybe I should even thank myself, shouldn't I?
For the flowers?
Notice how no matter where you go in life, people try to squash goodness?
Like the cashier thinking me silly for buying myself flowers for no reason?
I could have taken that on.
But why?
No thanks, it's not my issue.
I mean, why not buy yourself flowers?
Why not?
I can't see a better reason than none.
Honestly.
🙂
The best part of growing older is that, people can't break through your secret shield as easily.
Mine is a bit more solid with every passing year.
And by golly, if I want to buy myself flowers, I most certainly will.
And if I want chocolates or balloons, I will get them too.
Celebrating life.
Because you matter.
That's my motto.
Now, when was the last time you bought yourself flowers, just because?
xoxo
Love, Vanessa
ps: This way playing on the New Age station while I typed….
This is just beautiful. Thank you. xoox
When I lived in Minneapolis there is an area called The West Bank…..it had coffee houses where bands played, little shops of varying kind….a real wonderfully bohemian area. There were 2 girls who wore the cutest aprons and had an old fashion flower cart with a canopy top they could roll down the street. We would go every weekend and buy a bouquet of varying flowers with babies breath…..the prices were so reasonable and it meant I always had fresh flowers in the house.
These days having flowers around or even house plants…..is not safe…..for the flowers. Daisy thinks it’s all salad and does not let anything go untouched with teeth marks. I miss the days of fresh blooms in the house but unless they are placed high, high up they aren’t safe. Sooooo…….until I come up with a way to keep her away from them….no buying flowers. I have no problem buying them for myself…..flowers are always a good idea!
XO
I love love love LOVE this Vanessa! <3
Self-care is not selfish, it's necessary. We are able to be better to those we love when we are our best selves.
This is beautiful 🙂 xo
Me too, I buy flowers all the time, except in summertime when I have roses or other flowers from my garden. I buy my flowers from Aldi only pay 3$ for a bouquet, just came home from shopping with some white hyacinths 🙂
Vanessa, your post is an important one and you are very wise. This is the only life we are going to have and we may as well enjoy it. We create our own reality. If we wait around for someone to give us things we desire, it may never come. Claude Money said, “I must have flowers. Always. Always.” I buy myself flowers when I don’t have any in my garden. Candles.Chocolates. Treats. Things we love make life a little sweeter. Loved this post and I hope you have a beautiful day. 🙂
i often buy myself flowers–why not-I love fresh flowers. I don’t burn candles so much as my husband complains about the scent–I guess I should buy some unscented ones..In fact i think I am due for an infusion of fresh flowers today! My poinsetta from Christmas has given up and the narcissus bulbs my daughter in law sent have only one bloom and are about 3 feet tall!! I think they put all their energy into growing tall rather than making blooms!! Enjoy your beautiful flowers and candles!!
I do and always will buy myself flowers. I just love having them around me and till it’s warm enough to pick my own, buy I will. Tulips last week. This week? Who knows! I do better with flowers than with plants — I tend to kill things and flowers are supposed to be beautiful and then die. It’s what they do. Plants aren’t supposed to do that but I kill them anyway (although I must say that my two holiday poinsettias still look amazing! Maybe things are looking up!).
I’m glad you had the interaction with the cashier. Yes, you could argue the point to what end. But in saying what you did, perhaps she, too, will discover that treating yourself the way you deserve is indeed a good thing.
Vanessa, This such a Perfect and Lovely post. A beautiful reminder for us all. I too have found that others’ negative energy lingers less and less with age and experience. (it used to taint my moments of joy) Oh, to harness that alchemy that changes joy to sadness and Reverse it! Blessings to you and yours.
I was just thinking this weekend that it was high time that I bought myself some flowers again. Your pictures are beautiful and truly magical. There is nothing like the glow of candles and the fresh scent of flowers.
Thank you Vanessa- you are so good to us 🙂
Happy Monday V,
Flowers, blooming plants and yes, for me, even the artificial variety can put a smile on my face and brighten up a room.
I LOVE your rose and vase display….. just stunning. <3
Just thinking that you were placed in that store as a channel of paying it forward, bringing to life a loving and positive energy to all those you met. I think that clerk may have had an Ahh Haa moment, thanks to you!!!! Hopefully!!! 😉 Life is short, celebrate and enjoy the BLESSINGS that surround us!!!
The coolest thing happened to me many moons ago which I shall never forget. A young flower delivery boy/man was driving by my house as I was brushing and tidying off the driveway…he hit the brakes, jumped out of his vehicle and rushed around to me with a single rose.
Standing there stunned and finally coming to my senses, after he had already whisked away, I could only smile.
Flower magic fills my heart with joy 🖤
It has been a while since i’ve bought myself flowers but hubby has been doing a pretty good job of filling my vases. 🙂 I was thinking to myself as you told your story that i would have given the cashier a flower. I think she needed one… Hugs! deb
Oh yes, lucky the boys do good too. But for some reason when I go out and by some myself it puts a skip in my step 🙂 Both kinds are wonderful, fresh flowers make the world a better place indeedy <3 <3
ps: I thought about giving her a flower but she was swamped with a long line and no cup, so I just took my own flowers and left. By the by, you won't believe this.... I forgot to say, this is the same cashier who told me buying pumpkins was ridiculous, and she never understood why anyone buys pumpkins. She said, she didn't like them at all. I just laughed outloud, how could i ever explain to her what I do all summer, hahahaa!! 🙂
How dreammmmmy!!!!! <3 <3
Happy Monday lovely Kelly!! <3 <3
<3 <3 <3 <3 ;-)
Agreed!! It’s just like a gift to yourself and your living space. Enjoying, love it <3 <3 <3
Julie, I also think I just don’t care anymore, haha! Which is such a gift. I have found that things that upset me so much before got to a point to be so upsetting that the dam broke and all of a sudden I went into easy flowing. Actually, I have found that to be true with most things in my life that made me anxious or sad. I got to a point where I felt soooo horrible it burst and then it was just floating confetti forever. AMazing how that happens! Who has time to care about bad things??? Getting older is grand, just grand!! Who knew? hahaha!! <3 <3 <3
Jeanie, I looove that you buy flowers all the time. I just must step up my game 🙂
I agree with you, you could go in circles and circles with people. Better to just be nice and not take it on. That’s my motto. Too many years of trying to change people. Better to just gift them some love vibes and be on your merry way 😉 <3
Thank you Janet, I am enjoying them so. Especially on these rainy days, candles add such a gorgeous glow. I just buy scentless everything. I can’t have scented candles because they tend to invite my vertigo for a visit 😉 I like citrus or herb candles but burn them rarely. Scentless rock, and scentless dripless are even better <3 <3
Jude, I am like you. If i want something I go get it. I don’t wait for anyone but my own heart, haha! Why not? And if by chance I am gifted extra it’s just a bonus 🙂 Happy days!!
I looooooove hyacinths. Well I love most flowers. I am like you, if there are flowers in the garden of course I won’t buy, but in grey winter, you better believe it, haha!! 😉 <3 <3
Heidi you are 150% right, self care is necessary. It’s self love, and we all could do with more self love me thinks. IMHO 😉 xoxo
Oh noooooo, naughty naughty kitties!! They jump on furniture too? Maybe a bookcase or little mantle like shelf could do? I have no problem buying flowers either, it’s lovely lovely indeed!! xoxo
Perfect timing on your post today, I really needed to be reminded to be kind to myself. I love flowers and very rarely buy them for myself. I must go out and get some today, just for me! Your blog is my favorite. Cheer to you Vanessa xo
So Lovely, and I do buy myself flowers all the time. Flowers just make your soul feel so full and fed, if that makes sense. Flowers make you happy to be alive. It’s raining here in San Clemente at the beach, so adding some candles and a fire just makes the day, well, perfect. Your blog fills my soul as well. Thank you for sharing your world with the gypsy hearts that Love it so.
All the time. Last week I bought three pots of orchids, three pots of primroses and a big bouquet of baby’s breath.
At one time in Reykjavik, Iceland they used to deliver bouquets of flowers on Saturdays to regular customers 🙂
I have always been a huge believer in buying flowers for myself! And YES especially in Winter. Years ago in the Canadian North, they were necessary for my survival during Winter. Big bouquets of Stargazer lilies were my favorite and purple orchids too. Now In South Texas things aren’t nearly so bleak, but I buy flowers just the same. I recently read a study that said flowers actually have a proven effect on the happiness chemicals in our brains…no surprise to me, I’ve known all along 🙂
I love candles and light them all the time, no matter what time of the year. With flowers though, I’d rather grow them than have them in the house; and I usually prefer a single, “perfect” rose, instead of a dozen. However if I’m at a friend’s house and they have them, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest and I find it beautiful; just as your setting is absolutely gorgeous. Such a lush, romantic glow among all of those flowers…straight out of a movie setting. I do appreciate that.
So very, very beautiful.
Thank you for your poetic words.
You are a truly lovely person, Vanessa.
<3 <3 this inspiring post and all the comments!! Going out to buy myself flowers. :)
Thanks Vanessa!
I do buy myself flowers sometimes (probably not often enough). Lovely pictures.
Brava to you, Lady V, getting your flowers. I love flowers and buy them all the time. I brought last week a lovely pack of yellow daisies, yellow carnations and orange roses. I feel sorry for people who feel they have to wait for a special occasion for flowers. Every day is a great day for flowers.
I have not bought myself flowers but I have baked myself a cake, just because. Fun, isn’t it?
I love entering your world, Miss V. As always, this is just what I needed.
You deserve to treat yourself! Also your arrangements are so beautiful, so they are really a present to us all, too!
Your pictures are so lovely! I can’t wait to have flowers in my garden again!
I treated myself to a box of Valentine chocolates!!!
It was a very pretty shiny red box & I couldn’t resist! :0)
Oh what pretty, pink, pastel loveliness!! We got some beautiful pink roses for our wee one’s 4t birthday….I had not bought cut flowers in ever so long! We kept them in the house for almost 2 weeks…..they were so lovely and scented in the depths of winter. We have a little pot of miniature daffodils blooming now that brighten our days with each new bloom! : ) Wishing you a beautiful, lovely, merry and swirlingly magical afternoon Miss!! : )
I just found your site and I LOVE IT!!! I really love, love, LOVE self care. We’re taught we’re selfish for taking care of ourselves but it’s so necessary. I am just in love with this post. I feel like I’ve given myself a gift by finding your site.
Oooh Vanessa… you are such an inspiration and I adore you!… but of course we must pamper ourselves… buy ourselves flowers… and other little indulgences… like fancy chocolates… and a beautiful scarf with flowers on it… and I agree with you totally about as we get older, we are so much more “ourselves”… I have always been “me” but now I am more me than ever before… and I never, ever ever!… let anyone dampen my spirits any more… sometimes it IS hard to bite my tongue, like when the cashier said those things to you… but you handled it perfectly!… and maybe… just maybe?… she will buy herself flowers… but I am not placing any bets on that… I save all of my dried flowers and petals too, as they are still so very beautiful… when they are extra dry, I put them in pretty jars with lids and place them all over the house… and I think you should thank yourself for the flowers… perhaps by sending yourself some roses and a little note?… and I do not think anything you would have said would change the way the cashier thinks and lives… so sad… I cannot imagine a life like that, so down and negative… I am often asked why I bake my own pickles and jams and jellies and such when I could just go to the store and buy them… my answer to them is always the same… if you even have to ask… you would never understand… much love, xoxo… “Moi”
Ha ha ha, I don’t “bake” my own pickles!… supposed to say “make”, I just type really fast… sorry!… xoxo…
You are so wise Ms Vanessa. The great and powerful. I’ve been down lately, not blogging either. I just might have to buy some flowers and cheer myself up. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this wonderfully, gorgeous post! Vanessa! Thank you for the thought of spoiling myself with the intention of buying flowers. I will do this! I will go buy some flowers for myself. I spoil myself with buying things for myself on Etsy, almost weekly…I really do! It’s my escape from reality, into the world of my artistic fantasy dream. I have vintage laces, and too many Stampington magazines, and art supplies, embellishments, but they are so totally ME! They are my whimsical joy, so that I can walk into my art room any time of the day, and sigh, and take a deep breath and forget about everything else in life, and create or dream about what I am going to create next. But flowers! Such a lovely thought, and dried flowers are not junk! What a silly lady at the counter who waited on you…she just didn’t ‘get it’ did she!?
Vanessa, You are a twinkle! Poor cashier not realizing the all simple pleasures in life; but I bet she never looks at flowers the same again : )
There is always a fresh bouquet in my house, either from the garden or from the market. Right now there is creamy white roses. They just do my heart so much good. Loving your flowers, now I need pink the next time I buy some flowers.
Thank you for this post and the music too. We all do forget to love ourselves sometimes.
Cheers!
Debbie
You are so utterly divine! I love this post and your spirit! I hope that you got through to that gal and she will try something new, whether flowers or just some little nice thing for herself to dip a toe in and see how it feels. Ya never know!
I am going to get me some pink carnations today for no darn reason at all too! I adore their spicy smell. Only the pink ones have it, have you noticed that?
Oh I agree like crazy! Buy yourself, myself, flowers! A cute little glass vase or some charming buttons, or a new African Violet, or..or..or…or whatever tickles your/my fancy! But ESPECIALLY flowers! 🙂
A wonderful post!
Loved this post so much. I wish more people understood that when we treat ourselves lovingly in ways that make us happy, that only makes us better in how and what we give to others and to this world. So, that cashier has pooh-pooh’d flowers AND pumpkins? Makes you wonder if she really even knows how to experience joy and the simple but wondrous delights of life. While I don’t think she should try to make other people feel weird for doing so, that’s just where she’s clearly stuck, poor thing, but I’m sooo glad you’re able to not take this on. As you know, I’m so sensitive and tender-hearted, so this is a hard thing for people like us, but like you, I’m getting better at moving on from it more quickly and taking on less and less what really has nothing to do with me anyway, when you really think about it. And mainly, I just feel sad for her, in thinking about what she’s missing that could thrill her to pieces if she would only let it! We can’t save ’em all, but I’m glad you had the exchange with her that you did, because I do believe that on some level . . . it did reach her. And you never know what that can end up doing for someone someday. I have exchanges like this SO often myself, like when I’m interested in something ugly at a garage sale or thrift store, and someone is just floored that I can see beauty and possibility in it! So, I think handling it just as we do, telling them with a smile and such enthusiasm how wonderful it is to do what we’re doing with these items, can’t help but pass along some good, positive, life-loving energy, which hopefully, somehow, in some way brightens these people’s lives and maybe opens their minds and hearts, even just a little bit, to start seeing things differently. I love that you treated yourself, and your arrangement was beautiful. I treat myself to special things regularly, whether it’s flowers, a few new/old treasures from a thrift store, a new book, or whatever. So important to love and treat ourselves, and again, one of the best things we can do for this world, I whole-heartedly believe. 🙂 Thank you for such a meaningful and validating post.
So romantic pictures. :))