I have had more than one life-changing conversation in the grocery store. Anyone else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few years ago, I started shopping at a new grocery store, Lydl. One of the cool things about this store is that they have a large display of fresh cut flowers as soon as you walk in the door. It\u2019s like the foyer of the whole store. You are immediately surrounded by bouquets of flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One day, I walked in and was drawn in by the assortment of flowers. I wanted to buy some but the practical side of me said, \u201cno\u201d. It doesn\u2019t make sense. They\u2019re just going to die. It\u2019s better to buy a potted plant. It\u2019s a waste of money. You don\u2019t NEED those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But still\u2026 I looked at the price. $8 for a bouquet. Not much, really. I could spend that and not even notice the difference on my grocery bill. And yet, I stood there frozen. Something inside of me just wouldn\u2019t allow me to buy flowers for myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Out of nowhere, a voice interrupted the conversation I was having with myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeautiful, huh?\u201d It was a woman, elegant and kind\u2026I\u2019m guessing she was in her 50s. I was still in my 30s\u2026a baby, really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you thinking about getting them?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, she got serious. She stepped in toward me. Looked me straight in the eye. \u201cYou\u2019re married, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGot kids?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI bet you work too. Don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou deserve those. Don\u2019t question that. Get them! These will look great in your kitchen and they\u2019ll bring you joy. Get them. In fact, these lilies will look amazing with these roses. Get both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She scooped up a bouquet of lilies and a bouquet of roses and plopped them into my cart. Before I could think to protest or give an excuse for why I shouldn\u2019t get them, she was gone. Vanished, as I remember. I didn\u2019t see her anymore in the store afterwards either. As far as I\u2019m concerned, she was an angel sent to tell me exactly what I needed to know in that moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It seemed that she knew what I was thinking. Maybe she had been there. Maybe she had put off prioritizing joy for herself too long. She was on a mission to spread the word to another woman. Don\u2019t wait. Don\u2019t search for reasons to pass up joy. Don\u2019t look for reasons that you don\u2019t need joy, you don\u2019t deserve joy. In fact, whatever joy you were considering\u2026DOUBLE THAT!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I got home with not one, but two bouquets of flowers\u2026You should have seen the look on my husband\u2019s face. He lit up! He was SO happy for me. \u201cWow, Mama! Look at you! These are beautiful. I bet they make you happy!\u201d My joy, gave him joy! I started regularly buying flowers and then, made space in my garden to grow my own. Fresh cut flowers still bring me lots of joy. I\u2019m so thankful for the woman who took a moment to speak to me in the grocery store. I wish I knew her and could tell her the difference she made. The best I can do, is pay it forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I look for those opportunities now too. The opportunity to tell another woman. \u201cYou deserve this\u201d. Honestly, I look for the opportunity to let any human know. You were made for joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your joy doesn\u2019t take away from someone else\u2019s. You can feel joyful without stealing the joy from someone else. In fact, your joy gives those around you permission to feel joyful too. Joy is contagious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you\u2019ve ever wondered why I sign off \u201cYou deserve the joy and peace you desire\u201d. It\u2019s because of the woman I described above. It\u2019s my way of honoring the gift that she gave to me. She gave the gift of joy to me years ago and I\u2019m on a mission to share that life-changing wisdom with you (and anyone else who will listen)! With all of my heart\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You deserve the joy and peace you desire! I\u2019m cheering you on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much Love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stacey<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have had more than one life-changing conversation in the grocery store. Anyone else? A few years ago, I started shopping at a new grocery store, Lydl. One of the cool things about this store is that they have a large display of fresh cut flowers as soon as you walk in the door. It\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[116,41],"class_list":["post-705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-caregiver-and-sufferer","tag-aloneness","tag-relationships"],"yoast_head":"\n