Tea Towels and Thoughtfulness
November 2, 2011 My friend Lynnea just returned from a two week trip to the UK and France. I must confess I'm pretty jealous of her globe-trotting ways, but it's her thoughtfulness that I most want to emulate. Every time she and her husband take a trip, they bring back a souvenir for Matt and I. Isn't that sweet? This time she brought me these:
They're darling little Babushka tea towels from Paperchase. Aren't they adorable? Lynnea knows how much I love matryoshkas and Russian folk art, as well as pop art and kitsch. I really appreciate her thinking of me on her travels.
I really want to be a good friend like that, the kind of person who thinks of others even on vacation. I get such tunnel vision in my life. Really, it's like a tunnel with a screen over the end--I can only just make out even the things right in front of me. But I imagine thoughtfulness is like so many other virtues, and can be cultivated with practice. But how does one practice thoughtfulness? Hmm... It's something to ponder this month. The end-of-year holidays are an excellent time to practice thoughtfulness, don't you think? How would you go about cultivating consideration? I would love to hear how you make yourself a better friend and family member to your loved ones.
being better, friends
Reader Comments (8)
This seems like a great project for this month. I'm like you, I want to travel more AND be more thoughtful. Every year one of my "resolutions" is to "open my heart," and by that I mean be more generous and less judgmental (!). Every year, I know I could do better.
oh my, what cute little towels!!
something i like to do: buy a box of blank cards. when i have a fond memory of a friend or family member or if i just want to say hi, i write a little note and send a card. it's a simple way to be thoughtful and you gotta admit...it's just nice to get something other than a bill or junk in your mail box. :)
Lauren, I totally relate with making it a resolution every year. I think my heart is pretty open, but what good is being open and non-judgemental if I keep my love to myself?
Steph, you're such a sweetie. I have SO MANY blank cards that I never send to anyone. To be fair to myself, we don't have mail pickup on our street--we have to take mail to the post office. But to be honest, HOW HARD WOULD IT BE TO MAIL CARDS WITH RENT ONCE A MONTH? SIgh. So that's a plan though! I'll write cards to send with our rent!
So cute! I don't really think to pick up souvenirs all the time either. We did on our Honeymoon, that was easy. We got just about everybody something. After they had been so generous to us, it was easy to think to be generous back. But, the trick would be to give something when they haven't given you something first. That's harder. I don't really have the answer to that. :-/ But, I think we do nice things for other people throughout the year and I think that counts a lot.
visiting your blog via BYW. I have bookmarked you and will stop by again. I'm in Manhattan Beach so we are So Cal neighbors! Teri
Ha! you are too sweet! you are the one who lets Matthew and I invade your house to visit your kitty and you feed us yummy booze and pick up our mail while we are gone on a trip. I'm pretty sure that you are, in fact, the super sweet one here!! =) but thanks =)
Those towels are adorable. That's so thoughtful of your friend. I'm the same way with the tunnel vision sometimes. My sis is one who is always thoughtful. She is always good about sending thank you cards (through snail mail-not email) and gifts for others when she travels. I have learned a lot from her which is to stop and think of others instead of always thinking of myself. Thanks for the great post.
What a pretty and oh so thoughtful gift!. Hmm how do I cultivate consideration? .... i give of my time. Work is super busy, but weekends r for fam + freinds even if that means having to get up extra early or stay extra late during the weekdays .. so I have the weekends to catch up, relax, and re-invigorate myself with FUN!