The Old Blue Chair

It’s just an old blue recliner my dad gave me around 5 years ago because it was in the way at their house. I doubt he ever thought for a second that it would become my soft place to fall on the days that everything becomes to much. I curl up in it with a blanket and a cup of Earl Gray tea, I rock my youngest and sing him childhood songs as he plays with my hair and smiles, my oldest comes and sits on the arm as he reads me his book of the day or tells me his latest life story, and my sweet hubby loves to give me a sweet kiss on the forehead when I am sitting there. It is never vacant for long, never. Some one in this family always finds their way into that chair at all hours of the day. Joe loves nothing more than to take a nap in it, Quinton loves to watch Dinosaur shows on Netflix in it, Joel curls up with Coco and my blanket and takes a nap in it. Never empty for long. For good reason.

How funny is it that little things we sometimes take for granted become such big parts of our lives. It’s just an old blue recliner. It has stains. The recliner arm has been broken and fixed, twice, yet no matter what it’s age or condition, there are days that nothing feels more like home than that chair and the memories that go with it.

It’s my soft place to land. It’s my daily reminder that the little things matter. That life is what we make it. That new is not always better. That character is worth every trial it brings. That we are never better alone, than we are in the midst of our family and friends. That distance is only distant if you allow it to be and you can never be closer to anyone than when you carry them in your heart. It reminds me of family, of my dad, of love and it makes me smile.

Treasure is what you make of it. Don’t get so busy in life, trying so hard to have everything society tells you that you need to be a success, that you sacrifice the moments that matter the most. Don’t ignore your own blue chair and the real meaning it adds to your life. Remember to live your life. Everyday. With out waiting until you have crossed some invisible line to finally believe your life is worth living.

Because the newer version, just might not be as special as the one your living now.