“You are always a valuable, worthwhile human being, not because anybody says so…but because you decide to believe it and for no other reason” ~ Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

If you came for a visit to my home for morning or afternoon tea, I would choose my best coffee mugs to serve your coffee in, or tea cups, if you preferred tea.

Freshly baked biscuits or a piece of cake would be handed to you on matching plates.

Tea would be poured from a matching tea pot and you would help yourself to milk and sugar, offered also from a matching milk jug and sugar bowl.

The tablecloth would complement the colour of the crockery.

I would serve your morning or afternoon tea using my good crockery, because that is what I like to do.

Depending on which crockery I imagine you would prefer, I may offer you the rose patterned cups, or perhaps the white, self-patterned set. You may even prefer the willow pattern. Whatever set I choose for you, rest assured, it will match.

My friends should depart my home feeling special, if I have succeeded as a hostess.

But here, I have a confession to make…

When my family sits down each night for their evening meal, it is served on matching dinner plates, often the willow pattern, but occasionally the white self-patterned plates. And at lunchtime, even when I am eating alone, I favour a rose patterned cup and plate…

…because that is what I like to do.

In as much as I enjoy entertaining my friends at my home, bringing out the matching crockery and making them feel special, I also enjoy making my family feel special…and myself.

Why save the “good” crockery for a special occasion?

Why can’t every day be a special occasion?

Why not make every event, in every day, a special occasion?

Hopefully by now, you have realised that it’s not just about the crockery; it’s about you. Are you showing yourself the same high regard as you show to friends when they come to visit?

Perhaps the idea of pampering yourself in some way, every day, makes you feel uneasy, selfish even. Let me relay a short story to you, one that I heard many years ago.

“A mother and her two children were taking a trip on a plane. The plane was experiencing difficulties and the passengers were asked to use their oxygen masks. Being the self-less mother that she was, she made sure her two children were carefully fitted with their oxygen masks first. By the time the children were taken care of, the mother had passed out”.

Unfortunately I can’t remember where I heard this story, so can’t give credit to the author. However, the message is simple ~ by taking care of yourself first; you will be better equipped to care for others.

The greatest gift that you can give to those you love, is the gift of yourself; your well cared for, loved, pampered, soul singing self.

Start today, by treating yourself to the good crockery. 🙂