Life Lessons From Linens

31 Days 2013-001

This is a series of 31 posts dedicated to life lessons I’ve learned (or been reminded of) while working with vintage linens. With a few exceptions, most of the month’s posts will be “quick reads” intended to inspire, encourage, or challenge each of us to pay attention to some of the things (if you’re like me) too often ignored. As you read this random-order series, I hope you’ll leave comments and expand upon my thoughts–or add life lessons of your own that may come to mind.

 

I’ll add each day’s Life Lesson to the list as it’s posted.

  1. Sunshine is a gift!  (Scroll below this list to see the post.)
  2. Some things simply have to be experienced; no explanation necessary.
  3. Try new things; don’t get in a rut!
  4. Think outside the box
  5. Live Today as you want to be remembered Tomorrow
  6. Heritage matters
  7. Persistence pays off
  8. Look for the beauty in every season of life
  9. Time spent organizing beats chaos
  10. Remember to have fun!
  11. We learn about Life when we look beyond ourselves
  12. Sometimes we give up too easily
  13. Wishing doesn’t make it so
  14. “Imperfect” is okay
  15. Practice and Patience make a great team
  16. Never pass up a teachable moment
  17. There’s more to every person than meets the eye; slow down and look!
  18. Memories–good and bad–are worth holding on to
  19. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder
  20. Life is not all black and white
  21. Never stop learning
  22. If you say it, own it!
  23. People are important; everyone matters!
  24. Good manners are always in style
  25. Be versatile
  26. Use time wisely
  27. Nothing is insignificant
  28. Accumulation is a choice
  29. There’s a cure for a restless heart
  30. Don’t trade Today for Someday
  31. When you reach a point of no return, accept it


Life Lesson #1:  Sunshine is a gift!

With Winter quickly approaching, it seems like a good time to stop and express gratitude for the gift of sunshine.

 

The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers,
but for the wide world’s joy.

~Henry Ward Beecher

 

The benefits of sunshine for our overall health are well documented, but did you know that your linens can benefit from getting a few rays, too?  They can–even on partly cloudy days.

Laundry Clothesline - 2

 

Unless linens are very fragile, a bit of fresh air and sunshine won’t hurt them at all! In fact, sunlight is a natural bleach, so after a few hours in the sunlight, some light-colored stains just disappear. Colored fabrics often fade, so use common sense–and check out the Drying post from my How to Care for Vintage Linens & Lace series for more about sunshine and linens.

Laundry Clothesline - 4

 

Laundry Clothesline - 6

 

So this morning, with this “sunshine” post on my mind (and no cars behind me), I couldn’t help but smile–and reach for my phone–when I saw this…

Sunlight gift - 1

 

Even through a dirty windshield, I recognized it for what it was: the gift of a new day full of all sorts of possibilities.

Sunlight gift - 2

 

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5)

 

When’s the last time you felt the smile of sunshine?

 

I’m joining the 31-day Challenge at Nesting Place…where bloggers write for 31 days about “whatever floats their boat.” This year there are categories to make it easier to choose what you want to read about.  Enjoy!

Comments

  1. Bonnie Bee says

    WELCOME BACK, my dear friend.. What a memorable & amazing post… so missed your wonderful perspectives on life intertwined with our everyday, ordinary tidbits…. The new blog is fabulous.. I cannot imagine how many hours & long nights you invested.. but your hard work & dedication have truly been realized!… hope to see you soon…

  2. Lovely post! I do miss hanging out sheets, especially, for the wonderful smell of sun-warmed cotton. I have lots of memories of Mama hanging out clothes — and helping when I was tall enough. Boo, hiss, for homeowner associations that ban clotheslines!