Day 1102 The world is our oyster

 

A tiny little box with a ceramic oyster shell—“The world is your oyster”—a message we should all remind ourselves of each and every day! What a delightful thing to read. And when I opened the box, knowing a shell would be inside, I smiled anyway and was immediately filled with joy.

Okay, so this is the reason my house is full of treasures of all kinds: I’m easily delighted and love to surround myself with things that make me smile. I have friends who are clearing out their homes and lamenting that their children don’t want their belongings. Well, I didn’t buy this little treasure for anyone but myself—so there! My kids may not want my stuff, and that’s okay. They’re busy collecting their own life treasures. I’m sure that someday this little shell will end up in the garbage, but for now, it’s a treasure to me.

This week marks Tim’s and my anniversary, so this message arrived with perfect timing. It reminds me of how lucky I am to be this happy at this stage of life. Tim and I dated for ages before finally saying our I do’s four years ago, so technically we’re still newlyweds. I can’t imagine a better person to grow old with, live with, and go on adventures with. It may sound corny to say he’s my best friend, but he truly is. He’s the one I tell everything to, the one I share my thoughts with, and I’m always eager to hear what’s on his mind and make his day a little nicer if possible. 

I’m not sure what we’ll be doing to celebrate our anniversary, but honestly, we live a life of joy and ease every day—and that beats the fanfare of a one-day celebration. The world really is our oyster. We’ve raised our children, worked hard our entire lives, and now we get to selfishly go about our days doing whatever we fancy. From beach clubs and dining out to lounging around the house, putting off cleaning until a rainy day, and embracing each other’s quirks—life is grand, and the options are endless.

At this stage, it’s not about collecting things...(but they sure are nice). It’s about collecting moments. And if they come with a tiny oyster shell and a smile, even better

As Emily Brontë wrote in Wuthering Heights, “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” 

That’s exactly how it feels with Tim—like we were always meant to be together. How lucky I am to share this life, these quiet joys, and every adventure with someone who feels like home....the world is our oyster!