Welcome to Soulful Sunday #27 for July 16, 2023
In the classic musical The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews and the children under her care sang ‘My Favorite Things’ to pass the time during a thunderstorm.
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…”
I saw the movie dozens of times as a child with my mom, and many years later, I began the tradition of watching it with my son.
“Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens…”
It’s hard to watch the scene and not sing along, and if you’ve seen it a few times, the lyrics are hard to forget.
“Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things.”
When my son was sick, I often sang the song and watched a smile appear on his face.
If only briefly, the lyrics transport you to another time and place where laughter, happiness, and joy are plentiful.
“Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver-white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things.”
When life gets busy or messy, and challenges arise, it’s easy to forget the simple pleasures in life, the things that make you smile.
“When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad.”
Do You Remember Your Favorite Things?
I’ve always been drawn to beautiful shoes- all styles, shapes, and colors.
Friends called me Imelda. For those unaware, Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines from 1965- 1986, gained notoriety for a shoe collection that reportedly included 3,000 pairs of shoes.
My collection paled in comparison, but it did come close to 100 at one time. The fact I managed a women’s shoe store and could buy Italian-made shoes at a 40% discount helped with my collection.
Most of the shoes are long gone, passed on to those who could use them or worn beyond repair. But two pairs remain in my closet, although I can no longer wear them. While they still fit, the neuropathy caused by my autoimmune condition makes it impossible for me to walk in them.
Why not give those away too?
I came close a few times while organizing and cleaning my closet, but they always end up back on the shelf, in the bright yellow boxes they came in some thirty years ago.
I haven’t given them away because a part of me remains hopeful that a cure will be found for my condition and the neuropathy and pain will one day be a distant memory.
I’ll open the yellow boxes, slip on the beautiful high-heeled shoes and boots, and feel young and healthy again.
More of My Favorite Things
When my son was a toddler, full of energy and tired of playing inside on a rainy day, I would take him to the library or to visit a local bookstore. We’d sit in a comfy chair, and I’d read from one of the books he selected off the shelf. When he tired of being confined to my lap, we would walk next door to the large shoe store where they displayed one of each pair of shoes on the top of the long, low aisles.
The first time we entered the store, his expression was that of a child on Christmas morning after seeing the brightly lit packages under the Christmas tree.
Were the rows of shoes as appealing?
No, not quite, at least not for him.
But he saw the opportunity to walk, then run down the aisles, picking up shoes as he went, asking, “This one, Mommy?”
I smile, thinking about that first time and the subsequent visits.
Instead of chasing him or telling him to stop touching the merchandise, I used the opportunity to teach him about colors and add to his vocabulary: high, low, sneaker, etc. We often spent an hour in that store, going up and down each aisle of men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes. Of course, I always left the displays as we found them, a remnant of my days in retail. As we left the store, I thanked the pleasant ladies that worked there until the next time. I think they understood that our time there was exactly what we needed.
For me, a visit to the shoe store was like Christmas morning. Although I had no intention of buying anything, our visits let me view the latest trends and admire the colors, textures, and styles. But that’s not what made those visits unforgettable.
What made those snippets of time so special was the time spent with my son.
Just the two of us, learning and exploring. We weren’t in a foreign land, an exotic location, or a historical site, but it didn’t matter.
We were together.
We smiled, laughed big belly laughs, and lost track of time.
When he got older, we spent more time at the bookstore than at the shoe store, but that was even better. As if through osmosis, my love of books, stories, and words on a page had been transferred to him, just as my mother’s love of books led to mine.
Today, my son’s room resembles a bookstore section- stacks of books to be read, re-read, or studied. It’s also full of notebooks, journals, and manuscripts filled with outlines, drafts, and words he’s written over the years. An inspiring author and talented writer, the days of our bookstore visits meant something to him too.
The days spent reading in libraries and bookstores together are few and far between, but the memories of those times are forever imprinted in my heart and soul.
If I were to write the lyrics of ‘My Favorite Things,’ it would include shoes, books, and the joy of motherhood.
It would also include:
Fluffy dogs
Sandy beaches
Bright sunshine
Loud and lovable family
Ocean breezes
Belly laughs
Movie marathons
Snow Angels
Waves crashing on the shore.
Sandcastles
Snow days
Family vacations
Bear hugs
These are a few of my favorite things….
Today, I hope you remember a few of your favorite things.
If you’ve never seen The Sound of Music, consider watching it. You may find yourself singing along to some of the classic tunes.
But most of all, remember that life is short, and the little surprises and unexpected pleasures ultimately make the most significant impact.
I didn’t expect a shoe store and a bookstore to serve as meaningful backdrops in my life, but when I close my eyes and remember those wonderful days, I can’t help but smile and hope for many more just like them.
As for the two bright yellow boxes of Italian shoes that remain on my closet shelf, I keep them to remember the time before I became ill. They remind me that I had many years with no pain or restrictions and give me hope that I’ll know those days again.
For those that want to learn more about last week’s topic of regulating a dog’s nervous system, check out Canine Coaching Companions’ upcoming workshop with Lorrie Harris.
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Until next week, stay mindful and be safe.
I must say this is one of
my favorite articles of yours! 👠📚😊
Totally relate to the “keeper” shoes. Amazing what turns into field trips that last a lifetime.
This should be printed in a magazine or other publication. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beautiful as always !!Your joy and excellence in motherhood shines through