Have you ever bought something spontaneously then found it to be one of your greatest purchases?
In the late ’90s, we added on to the back of our house and I was the sole decorator. I decided on the theme and didn’t settle for anything less than what I had pictured in my mind. Since I have surgery on a regular basis and always seem to be recovering, my family referred to the addition as ‘our recovery room.’ It was designed to be accessible for me, to accommodate my needs and a place for me to feel better.
One day, while browsing through a home store, I came upon a wall hanging that was long, narrow and wordy. There was nothing about it that matched my décor, but I bought it anyway because of what it said, especially the very last line.
When I brought it home, I tried every wall, but couldn’t decide where to hang it so I set it aside. Friends liked what it said, but agreed because of the wording it was like reading a novel and the print was too small to see from across the room.
After hearing the same comments repeatedly, I finally found the perfect spot – the new bathroom! Initially, I hung it as a joke because people often read while using the facilities and this provided a great deal of reading material. But later, I noticed friends and family were taking longer than usual and they seemed to ‘go’ more often when they visited.
The hanging is titled, “Life’s Little Instructions,” and lists simple suggestions for living. First on the list is “Sing in the shower,” followed by “Watch a sunrise at least once a year.” There’s nothing profound, just little instructions we are all capable of doing.
Others on the list include:
“Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures”
“Never refuse homemade brownies”
“Be forgiving of yourself and others”
“Over tip breakfast waitresses”
“Be the first to say hello, return all things you borrow”
“Make new friends, but cherish the old ones”
“Live your life as an exclamation not an explanation”
“Keep your promises no matter what."
The one most women like and appropriate for the bathroom is, “Leave the toilet seat in the down position.”
Believe it or not, many who have read the instructions say they try to follow them and they do make a difference. They say when something comes up, they remember the hanging and try to follow through. It’s often simple and fun.
Half way down the list it says, “Wave at kids on school buses.” Once while traveling down the highway, I was sitting in the passenger’s seat of my friend’s car and we passed a school bus. I noticed a few young kids starring out the windows like zombies. One little boy looked especially sad. When we made eye contact, I waved at him. Suddenly, there were four smiling kids waving back at me. Seeing their happy faces, I put both thumbs in my ears making moose antlers and waved my fingers. Before I knew it, all the windows on the bus were filled with kids making faces and we were all being silly. Now I wave at kids on buses every chance I get because the rules say so.
Are you curious about the very last line? It is possibly the most important instruction on the list and the one I point out to my son on a regular basis. It’s simply, “Call your mother.”
My idea is to share such simple habits to make life better.
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