- I’m a little teapot…
…couldn’t put back Humpty Dumpty (nor my favorite teapot) back together again. I found this teapot when I lived in Chester, England…so it had special meaning for me. It’s lived through several moved and has had a full life as a useful and often used teapot. Let’s be clear – it didn’t just sit on a shelf and look pretty!
For me this was a small reminder of two core beliefs for me.
First, I like things that carry a story or meaning from my past – but I also value their usefulness. I don’t want to live in a fragile “house museum” of beautiful things, which are kept away from life here in the moment.
Second, even though I have some important items that I carry close to my heart, they are just things – transient, easily lost, broken or stolen. So, while I still want to take care of them, I don’t want to be so attached to them that a broken teapot sends me over the edge. There are far more important things to be concerned with — relationships, health, well being…life itself. Physical items can be replaced.
I believe that holds even for other guests in my house. Yes, I hope they respect (and use!) what’s here. But, at the end of the day, if a favorite item breaks – it’s just a physical item, and not worth losing a lot of sleep over. Again, I hope they will speak up and apologize for the damage, But then, we move on – no drama, no yelling, no threats. Life happens. I’d rather enjoy the things I have, value their story, but not be so attached to them that I overreact if they’re gone.
So, I swept up Humpty Dumpty and my teapot…had a fond memory of my time in Chester, and the many times I’ve enjoyed tea from my favorite teapot…and moved on. Life happens…
The Magical Storybook of Professor Peacock 