The March prompt for Ali Edwards‘ One Little Word online class involved “doing one little thing,” taking an action to pursue your one little word for the year. I put several little things on my list (typical overachiever – and I wasn’t sure one little thing could actually be that powerful). But my favorite, the one I’ve continued to do, is buying myself flowers on Mondays.
There’s a Chinese man who spends his days at the entrance to the Downtown Crossing T stop on Washington Street, surrounded by pots of tulips, daffodils, snapdragons, roses, carnations and whatever else he’s offering that week. Prices start at $2, for a half-dozen daffodils, and I decided I could definitely afford that.
And oh, it’s made such a difference in my weeks. That vase full of vivid color, sitting on my gray desk in my taupe office in my glass-and-steel building, brings spring inside, and brings it alive, for me. It’s a comfort on gray or cold days, a reassurance that this too shall pass. It’s also a comfort in the sense of luxury – it feels like a splurge, even though it’s now something I do nearly every week. And it reminds me of the line from Hopkins’ poem “God’s Grandeur” – “There lives the dearest freshness deep down things.” Somehow, it freshens my writing and editing to have tulips or daffodils blooming at my elbow.
Are you following a word or an idea this year? Or is there “one little thing” you do to brighten your days?
cakes, tea and dreams 
I thank God for “Rainy Days and Mondays” and the time to write.
I love how small the world is. I bought flowers from that same man – as well as from Brattle Square florists in Harvard Square (run by the nicest couple imaginable). What a beautiful ritual; thank you for bringing color into my week!
Good for you! I adore flowers and rarely have them, although my anniversary was last week and I’m still enjoying some beautiful roses from my sweet husband. I haven’t found affordable, consistent flowers here in Houston. 😦 I’m glad you’re treating yourself!
I started doing this when I was in an office and it made all the difference in the world. Suddenly. cubicle life is inspiring and indulgent!
I do have two words that I’m keeping in mind these days: “full” and “unapologetic.” I want to be both, about everything.
My husband bought me flowers regularly this year since I’ve been so sick in January/February. It always cheered me up. Flowers definitely brighten your days.
[…] 1. Get up early enough to eat breakfast at home. 2. Bring along enough reading material to last through both ends of my commute (and sometimes lunch). 3. Get up from my desk at least once an hour. (Harder sometimes than it sounds.) 4. Drink water/tea at my desk. 5. Treat myself, once in a while, to a chai latte. 6. Spend my lunch breaks on the go – walking to the Brattle, the post office, the Common, Second Time Around, etc. 7. Make tomorrow’s to-do list in the mid-afternoon slump. 8. Bring healthy snacks to eat at my desk. 9. Listen to music (sometimes). 10. Buy myself flowers on Mondays. […]
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