In Shady Pines it’s the Little Things That Count – The Power of Appreciation
Be Mindful
Welcome dear readers and thank you for visiting Shady Pines Story Town. Can you hear it?
Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock. Shaped like a teapot, the antique clock on the wall in the Sanders’ kitchen provides a gentle rhythem to the passing of time.
Edna is at her desk sifting through the latest stack of mail.
A bright colored envelope has an invitation inside to a surprise party. “Oh, fiddlesticks,” she says quietly to herself.
“I nearly forgot! It’s Susan’s birthday next week. I need to get my friend a gift. Better yet, I’ll bake her a cake! I know she loves chocolate.”
Edna makes a note of that and some other things she needs to do.
As her list gets longer, Boomerang paddles into the kitchen and lays his handsome head on her lap.
“Am I ignoring you big fella?”
The family’s Australian Shepherd drops his bone and accepts her pats and hug.
“Oh Pah-Leez!” groans Halley’s Comet as she saunters up next to him. The silver streak of a cat rolls her eyes.
“Pipe down Halley,” growls Boomer. “Mom and I are having a moment.”
Halley bumps him out of the way.
“Halley Sanders,” says Edna in a stern tone. “That wasn’t nice. Did you think Boom was getting too much attention?”
“He always gets too much attention,” says Halley.
Boomer looks right at her. “Do not.”
“Do too!” hisses Halley.
“Do not.”
Edna retrieves Boomer’s bone from the floor and gives it to him. Next, she point to the ground. “Boomer, down. Now!”
“Your turn missy,” says Edna as she softly slings the sassy cat over her left shoulder and places her on her window seat. “Looks like I have to separate the two of you.”
Appreciation
Edna sighs deeply. “I know you don’t believe this, but do you realize how lucky you are to have one another?”
“Did she say lucky?”asks Boomer.
Halley shakes her head. “Not the word I would use.”
“Kids, I want to share with you one of my favorite sayings: ‘It’s the little things that count.’
You’ve probably heard that expression a hundred times. But, it’s so true. You have each other through the good times and the bad.”
Halley licks her paws. She’s thinking. “We did kinda like that scavenger hunt that mom and dad made for us.”
Boomer crunches his bone then looks up.” Yeah, that was nice of them. I got the stuff that was hidden down low and you found the goodies up top.”
“We found a lot of toys and treats. That was cool,” admits Halley.
“Yeah,” says Boomer. “Until they figured out we were working together.”
“Then it was embarassing.” says Halley.
“Yes, I know you get on one another’s nerves,” says Edna. “But you also go on adventures together. You even get into trouble together. Think about it. Life wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if you didn’t have one another.”
Kind Connections
“Honey, I’m home,” says Harold as he breezes through the back door.
Edna turns to hug him. “Hi sweetheart. Let me take your coat.”
“Thank you. So what’s going on here?” asks Harold.
Edna hangs up Harold’s coat in the closet by the back door. “I was telling the kids how they should learn to appreciate the little things in life that make us feel good and valued.”
“Exactly right. Like hanging up my coat. Very kind of you, dear,” says Harold as he kisses his wife on her cheek.
Edna has another example. “Monday I was having a bad day and then, suddenly, the grocery store clerk at the check-out told me she really liked the color of my sweater. That’s a simple thing, right? But it lifted my spirits and I felt better.”
Harold nods. “That’s the power of appreciation. You’re thankful that this person, who you don’t even know, took the time to pay you a compliment.”
Paying Attention
“Good point,” says Edna. “Paying attention to even the smallest gesture makes me want to do more to make other people feel better.”
“Harold nods. “You’re so right. Like, at the hardware store when one of my employees holds the door for me because my hands are full, I notice that. Just like I get a big kick out of bringing Boomer to work and having customers say he’s so well behaved.”
“People actually say nice things about you?” asks Halley.
Boomer growls. “Yes they do.”
“Shocking.”
Edna looks from Boomer to Halley. “Or, when you two knuckleheads cuddle with me when I’m not well. I instantly feel better because you make me feel loved. And 
that often reminds me to reach out when someone is sick, or in the hospital. Sometimes just sending a card of some flowers can make their day.”
Dear readers, I’d like to share with you the time Harold, did something nice for Edna that was very unexpected but oh, so, appreciated. He gave her a one-of-a-kind gift that meant the world to her. It involved Gertie, Edna’s favorite blender. You can read all about it by CLICKING HERE
All these examples may seem like little things. But here in Shady Pines Story Town we believe in the kindness connection. Seems to me, if we all tried to pay attention to those little things in life that really matter, this world would be a much better place. Don’t you agree?