CASHMIRE BOUQUET

It's funny how thoughts and smells

twine together bringing moments

of joy into our lives.

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I remember as a young child

my mother boiling water on

an old wood stove

in my grandmothers kitchen

and the metal tub waiting

to be filled with

children and laughter.

*

My grandmother always had

these little bars of the

sweetest smelling soap

Cashmire Bouquet.

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They came in a plastic bag

and we would get

to pick one out

for our bath.

*

I still love to hold

a bar of this soap

to my nose

and smell it

reminding me

of those precious

moments frozen

in time.

*

These sweet memories

remind me that we all choose

how we view our world.

*

We can hold on to

the bitterness,

remembering only

the pain

and sorrow

*

or

*

Choose the

sweet memories

that bring a

smile of joy

to our face.

*

It saddens me

when I see loved ones and strangers

who choose to live in the past.

*

People who choose

to feed off

all the old hurts and pains

instead of choosing

to remember

the sweet moments of joy.

*

It saddens me when people choose

to blame others for

the sadness in their lives,

never realizing

that they have chosen

the path of their lives

and only they can choose

to find joy.

*

It is not easy to let go,

but some people

seem to wear

their hurts and pains with pride,

bragging on who

has suffered the most.

*

Maybe

this is where

they find their joy,

what brings happiness to them,

maybe

that is all the joy they expect

or want out of life.

*

When I was young

I thought

being an adult meant

following my own rules,

never having to live

by someone elses choices.

*

As an adult I learned

there were different rules

and not only did I have to choose

to follow these rules

but

I had to accept

that

choosing not to follow them

was a choice I made

and any price to be paid

was mine to pay.

*

So I learned to ask myself

can I live with this choice

and where it leads?

*

It has taken me a long time

to learn

and sometimes I still forget

that

my joy

has never been

anyones choice

but my own.

*

I will never be able

to make choices

for others,

though sometimes

I wish I could.

*

But it is my choice

how others decisions,

rules and choices

affect my life.

*

I can choose

to hold on to

the past,

to my anger and hurt.

*

I can choose

to blame others

for all of my lifes

problems and troubles.

*

OR

*

I can choose

to pick up a bar

of sweet smelling soap

and remember

that frozen moment

in time.

*

Your joy

is just that

"Yours"

If you choose

not to embrace it

then at least

be honest enough

with yourself

to recognize it is your choice!!!

*

*

*

I hope you find your bar of soap.

*

Love

Karen