I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Why Not?

If I had to describe this past week in one word I think I would have say “WHEW!” I am not sure
if that is an actual word, but that pretty much sums up the week I have had. As a matter of
fact, I have been so busy this week that it is almost 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening and I am just
sitting down to write this article for Monday morning. Hopefully, the “Madame” will forgive
me. Actually, I am pretty sure she will forgive me, because my topic this week revolves around
her precious little girl.

Several weeks ago Miss “M” showed up in the most beautiful red dress. This dress was
Christmas card quality. “M” shows up to preschool in this dress and her cute little sparkly
bedazzled sneakers, her hair in pigtails ready to face whatever our day throws her way. After
commenting on her beautiful dress her mommy shares with me that “M” picked out her
own clothes that morning and when she asked her why she was wearing her fancy dress to
preschool “M” looks at her and says “Why not?” And then it hit me; like a ton of bricks right
over my sometimes thick head, it hits me. Why not?

How many times do we wish for something special and then when we finally get it we are afraid
to use it for fear of messing it up? As I sit typing this article this evening, I am reminded of
my sweet grandmother and how much she loved her beautiful dining room furniture. (Sorry
Grandma, but I am using your beautiful table as a desk right now) The china hutch behind me is
full of my Grandma’s beautiful china. My Grandma bought that china in 1976 and I doubt that
she used it more than ten times in the 25 years she had it until her passing in 1999. She was so
proud of it, yet she was afraid to use it. And now I have had her china for nearly 12 years and
have never eaten off of it once. Why? Because up until now, I have never thought why not?
Why don’t we just eat off the good china tonight even though we are having hot dogs and mac
and cheese? Is there a rule that says we must not eat hot dogs on the Noritake? No, so why
not?

We are given but one chance in this life to live, laugh, love and embrace all that is around
us. My cousin recently posted a comment on Facebook about having ice cream with her
granddaughter for breakfast one morning. What a memory that little girl will carry with her
about the day she and her grandma threw caution to the wind and ate ice cream for breakfast.
My challenge for you this week is find your “Why not?” and do it. Life as we know it is so full
of responsibilities such as work, children, civic organizations, sports, church events, etc., that
when we have the opportunity to enjoy some down time we should make every effort to enjoy
our stuff. Instead of sitting in the family room on the older, more used sofa, drag the television
to the formal living room and watch a movie and eat some popcorn on the good furniture. Eat
in the dining room with candles lit once in a while. Use the good silverware. Use the nice bath
towels. You cannot enjoy something if you do not use it.

And while I can promise I will not be wearing my pretty red dress and sparkly shoes to school
like little Miss “M”, I can promise you that one day very soon, I am going to dust off my
Grandma’s dishes fix some spaghetti and meatballs, light a few candles and eat dinner at
my dining room table with my fellas. And I am sure that somewhere up in the heavens my
Grandma will be looking down at me hoping that I have a placemat under my plate so I don’t
scratch her good table. And of course, I will because I have some really nice ones that I have
never used….up until now that is.

Peace,

Karla Robey