Celebrating the Little Things…in a Big Way by Delsora Lowe

In this crazy world, we find ourselves inside or imprisoned in the confines of our yards. Maybe we can wander through our neighborhoods, as long as we stay far away from others.

When all we hear is sad and bad news on a daily basis, as we have for months, instead of only celebrating birthdays and holidays and work promotions and book launches—those monumental milestones in one’s life—now celebrating the little things is a must.  

Weird mushroom with wild strawberry leaves top and bottom - soon tiny red berries

LITTLE has many definitions: insignificant, tiny, inadequate. In this case, I want to concentrate on those everyday “tiny” things we take for granted. Not because they are unimportant, but because we know we can depend on having them. And when we don’t have easy access, they become HUGE. They become things we yearn for or things we obsess about.

Then there are the little things we may not take notice of or think of as important, but are delightful and put a smile on our face. Those little things that make us forget our big problems, like the first dandelions in spring.

My way of celebrating myself is to celebrate what is around me, to energize me, and give me the strength to celebrate myself.

Dandelions aren't just weeds

For me dandelions signal the birth of spring. And more than that, they evoke images of my grandmother, who made dandelion wine from the flowers and picked the tender leaves as they appeared in early spring, before the flowers bloomed. She sautéed them for dinner. My grandmother knew the health and culinary benefits of dandelions (see link below*)—probably why she lived to be ninety-nine. I lived in a small, country town when the kids were pre-school age. We had a huge garden that took up the side of the house. But in early spring, before we rototilled, I’d take the kids out and we’d pick dandelion greens for dinner. I never did try making wine.

Buds are out - soon May flowers

I celebrate taking walks. I live in a medium-sized, safe town and I have two legs that work and I have energy (sometimes), so taking a walk shouldn’t be monumental. As I write this, social-distancing is the norm. Hopefully that term won’t be as significant a barrier when this post appears, as the mandate is now. But I’m not counting on that to be the case. Getting out in the sunshine or on a chilly, windy, brisk day with questionable clouds skittering above me, is a gift. Part of that gift is watching the seasonal changes around me—growing gardens, the return of migrating birds, and even the color of the sky, sunsets, and cloud formations look different than they did this winter.

Waving to a neighbor who is cleaning up the lawn and setting out colorful chairs after a long winter, is a gift. Saying a quick hello to someone you don’t know, but pass by on the other side of the street, and getting an enthusiastic greeting back, is a gift. And standing on the back lawn after a walk, watching your neighbors five new laying chickens peck the dirt, is a gift.

Right now, our celebration of the simpler things that are usually a given in life, are making a huge difference. Last summer a friend who moved gave me a compost barrel. The thing was huge and would take me a decade to fill it, even with the bags of leaves I rake every fall, so I offered it to my neighbor who is building raised garden beds and has just purchased his hens. It sits at the corner between our lots, so I can still help fill the container. He is thrilled and in return gave me fresh eggs.

Fun in the Sun

Escaping the Rain

Another friend gave my ex-husband fresh oysters. His friend had to purchase 100 at a time, but did so to help the local oyster harvesters who have no business with restaurants and the farmer’s markets shut down. My ex, in turn, shared them with me and also with the neighbor who gave each of us fresh eggs. The oysters were the biggest, sweetest, and most tender I’ve ever eaten and were harvested near my town. So much to celebrate, as we all exchanged gifts.

Fresh Maine Oysters

Then there are the simple things we take for granted. Going to the grocery store is now a celebration, especially when the shelves aren’t bare, people are being polite and social-distancing, and the employees who have worked there for decades are still safe and healthy. Hoping that someday soon I’ll be able to get my haircut and chat it up with all the women who work at the small salon as well as the customers who are familiar faces from around town.

Connecting on Zoom or WebEx or Skype and chatting with authors from all over the country and hearing workshops on the craft of writing, is a blessing when we’re all stuck inside. Video chatting with my grandson, so I can show him the Easter basket I’ve been filling up since February, is reason for celebration. I was finally able to deliver the candy in person, dropping it off at the end of the driveway. I got to see his face light up and wave and blow kisses. We did a distancing display of hugging. It wasn’t the same as putting my arms around him, but it was a huge gift to see him and talk in person.

Grandson's eyes widened at this stash

And to wrap up my long lament on things I am grateful for and celebrate, is being a monthly contributor to Romancing the Genres. It is indeed a gift and reason to celebrate. Writing is a gift. Sharing my writing and my thoughts on writing is good for my soul, not to mention, a mental exercise that invigorates and challenges me. And celebrating nine years if RTG as this month, the blog moves into its tenth year is…yes… a great gift.

One more thing to celebrate – is my new book cover. The Legacy of Parkers Point is not a new book, but a new cover for my very first book. When I wrote Legacy, I did not envision writing two more to make a series. Although I loved my very first cover, I decided a new cover was needed to better fit the look of the series, and to show the book takes place in the fall.

Here’s to celebrating ourselves and all the wonders that surround us.

What are the important little things in your life that you now celebrate more than ever?

New Cover - YAY!

The Legacy of Parkers Point

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Parkers-Point-Serenity-Starlight-ebook/dp/B0743NVCC6/

Books2Read
books2read.com/u/b6rQzx

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine.

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Author FaceBook page: fb.me/delsoraloweauthor
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe

* Dandelion Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits 
https://www.thekitchn.com/10-ways-to-use-those-dandelions-recipes-from-the-kitchn-188774