‘Tis a Gift to be Simple

Some of you may be wondering, “What exactly am I looking at in this photo? Is that a frog?”
Your questions are justified and yes, what you are looking at is indeed a frog and more than a
frog, it’s a frog flowerpot that I have owned since I was a very young girl. My mother is an avid
flower gardener and worked to instill this passion in me and as a hook in her plan, she purchased
this child-like frog flowerpot to get me started. And yes, I plant some sort of flowering foliage in
this very sentimental pot every year!

Something to know about me is I do not keep a great deal of physical positions, specifically
physical positions that do not serve a purpose. My loving older brother literally once told me that
I was “The least sentimental person he knows.” I do not collect tchotchke, I do not keep books
that I have already read, I do not appreciate trip trinkets. Rather, I love going and experiencing
places, cultures that are different than mine, and great food with friends and family. I am one of
those who spends money and time on travel, and I collect experiences and memories. So, the fact
that I have kept and moved this 1970s-style frog flowerpot certainly say’s something.

I deeply believe that what and who we surround ourselves with say’s more about what our values
are than we truly take time to consider. Are you a collector of items of interest? Do you like to
remember your adventures through photos and mementoes? Do you proudly display your
achievements on your office walls? There are meanings and reasons behind each of the decisions
we make in what and how we share with others what holds meaning and space for us.

This week, I encourage you to take time looking around the spaces in which you occupy. What
does what you own and how you share these pieces of you say about you? Is the message you are
sharing the message you want to convey?