The art of life arranging
What if happiness doesn’t come only from big, flashy moments in life?
I’m talking about the moments you’ll see movies made about or from someone’s highlight reel of their year.
Yes, this selected scrapbook looks great, and there is nothing wrong with a life where the big moments are remembered and cherished–but I wonder if that’s not what a fulfilling life actually looks like.
I often think about flower arrangements when I think about happiness that feels fulfilling.
Flower arrangements come in all shapes, sizes, and styles.
Some arrangements only include the showstoppers. All roses, all lilies, all something.
These types of arrangements are striking and elegant–but that’s not the only type of beauty.
The arrangements that seem most full and unique to me are those with lots of greens and fillers like baby’s breath and the other “little” bits we might look over more easily.
Sometimes, the fillers become a focal point!
There’s so much more variety and interest in these arrangements, even though they look so different from the big, flashy arrangement.
Could the same things be true about living a happy and fulfilling life? That it’s not always the “major” moments that count but the consistency of small, subtle moments of happiness?
How could we thoughtfully arrange a happy, fulfilling life using the “flowers” we have at hand?
I have a few ideas.
Look at what is “in bloom” in your life today. Not just the vacation or the milestones, but the small moments, too. The fillers, the greens, the baby’s breath. You can’t go wrong if you stay open to discovering the happiness already around you.
Prep your vessel with greens. The most important technique to flower arranging doesn’t actually involve the flowers–it’s the vessel. If flowers don’t have a sturdy foundation, they won’t stay in place and your arrangement will keep falling apart. Challenge yourself to look for the learning opportunities in situations and people around you and make it a daily practice.
Add in the standouts & fillers. Let the big moments stand out vividly, as they are a source of wisdom or reflect the person you are trying to be. But look to surround yourself with goodness in all forms.
Water what you have to keep it fresh. As you learn the technique of “flower arranging” your life, you’ll begin to see the compounding effect of cultivating a more fulfilling kind of happiness. A kind that looks first to see what’s already “in bloom” in your life and collects multi-faceted beauty from there.
