Last night we had some friends over for snacks and drinks before heading to a concert. I told everyone, “We aren’t having anything fancy, just a quick snack.” I had planned to serve cheese, crackers, chips, and homemade salsa because we wouldn’t be hanging around long. One friend showed up with a Ziploc bag of peanut butter pretzels. She sheepishly joked that even though I told her not to bring anything, she just grabbed them on the way out the door.
How did I serve them?
In a Waterford crystal bowl, of course.
Here are the 9 reasons I chose that bowl:
Bowls were made to be used. Ok, that’s cliché. Some may argue there are decorative bowls (made of toxic substances) that should not be used for food. I get it, but stick with me. The reasons get more profound, I promise. Keep reading.
It was the perfect size for the number of pretzels in the bag. Sure, I could have chosen a pottery bowl that matched the other serving pieces I was using that evening, but they were either way too big or way too small. This was a “Goldilocks” fit…just right.
It was clean. Not to say all my other dishes aren’t clean, but since I had just used this particular bowl a few days prior, I knew it had not been sitting around for years collecting dust.
I love crystal. It’s true that most people these days aren’t interested in crystal. Due to supply and demand principles, most crystal is not worth much anymore. I can relate when clients are disappointed to know it is worth only a fraction of what they paid for it. Even so, when my clients offer me their crystal that their children and grandchildren don’t want, I decline. I have all I need. Some pieces were expensive, some were not. The value for me is aesthetic, not monetary. I have crystal (and actually some cut glass) because I enjoy displaying it and keeping it looking beautiful.
Peanut butter pretzels taste better out of a crystal bowl. How could they not? ☺ Which leads me to the next reason…
We weren’t tempted to eat as much. We all know that while peanut butter pretzels have a combination of protein and carbs, they probably aren’t the healthiest choice on the buffet. Having to carefully take one at a time out of a fancy bowl rather than grabbing a handful out of a huge plastic bowl would make us more mindful of how many we were eating. Hmmm…maybe I should introduce a new diet…the Waterford diet. ☺
It reminded me of my grandparents. We all have things that we save because they belonged to or were a gift from someone special. Being open and willing to pull that dish out quickly brought my grandparents to mind because they gave the bowl to my husband and me as a wedding gift over 30 years ago.
It was a conversation starter. When I brought the bowl out and placed the pretzels in it (with a little bit of flair, I might add) there were “oooh’s and aaah’s” and comments about how it “must be special.” That gave me the opportunity to share the story of the bowl being a wedding gift from my grandparents who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary just days before our wedding. Another guest’s parents had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and the conversation naturally flowed to the story of that celebration…and others.
And the number 1 reason I chose the bowl…
It made everyone feel special. I was personally reminded that this was a time to cherish. The friend who brought the peanut butter pretzels felt special by me elevating her store-bought pretzels. Everyone who was there got the message that our time together was “special-occasion” worthy. It set the stage for a wonderful evening together.
As someone who helps people organize and pack to move for a living, I can tell more stories you want to hear about people’s regrets. They lament having to go through boxes and bins that have been stuffed into closets, basements, and attics. As they pull out their long-forgotten chattels, they are disappointed to find that today’s market for many of their “prized possessions” has waned. When asked the reason they stored them instead of using them or passing them along sooner, I hear “It was expensive.” “I only used it for special occasions.” “I was worried it might break.” This mindset resulted in decades of missed opportunities to enjoy these special items.
Was the bowl I used expensive? Yes, it was. Cars are expensive too, but we use them every day. Just because something is expensive, doesn’t mean it should be relegated to sitting on a shelf (or worse, packed in a box in the back of a closet.)
Could it have gotten broken? Of course, accidents happen. Remember the old adage, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Your stuff is saying to you, “It is better to be used and enjoyed than never to be used at all.”
Was it meant for special occasions? Yes! Time spent with good friends and family should always be special! Dig out those “special occasion” things and use them unexpectedly. You will be pleasantly surprised at the way it changes your perspective.