Loving where you live.

Last week I found myself at Starbucks in Target with my girls, an order of cake pops, a gift card Brett won, and unfortunately for me-a stomach bug.  Such is the mom life I suppose! I didn't feel like coffee (that's how you know I felt bad) so instead I wandered around looking at the mugs to pass the time.  I happily noticed the florals and stripes, quickly looking at the mugs with Starbucks proudly printed on the front.  Then my eyes stopped on one mug in particular, a mug that proudly had Arkansas painted on it, among other symbols and signs that represent our state.  I just knew I should use my gift card to buy this beautiful white and green mug when I saw the Buffalo River taking up a good part of the side.  As I walked back up to the register to pay I commented on how much I love our state.  And I do, truly!  It won't surprise you to know I'm one of those "bloom where you're planted" kind of gals.  I truly think, wherever you are, be all there.  I try to live like that at least.  

I can honestly say I love where I live.  A big part of that is from the amount of exploring we do on a regular basis.  We play tourist often and the rewards are that we not only get to fall more in love with the town we live in, but with the people as well.  This is a view of our vibrant farmer's market. 

There's nothing else like getting out of the comfort zone of your own house to grab a coffee or kombucha and stroll 'round the market, stopping to admire the fresh veggies, fruits, flowers, and crafts.  We almost always see at least a few people we know and stand and visit while dogs and kids mingle amongst the conversation.  There's the bubble man on the corner that always draws a crowd, the grown-ups as equally delighted as the children.  This is what I call loving where you live.  

Another favorite place in our town to draw inspiration, gather plants galore to beautify our own cozy home, and occasionally run into a friend, is our local nursery.  There's even a cat that lives here that the girls faithfully look for to say hello to.  On our visits now we fondly recall the years where the girls were too big to walk and we'd hoist them both up in the front of the cart, flowers spilling out behind their chubby, happy smiles.  Seeing as this is a place we've put into practice, the girls now stroll amongst the plants and flowers freely, stopping to look at whatever catches their attention.  

This is loving where you live. 

It's said that "life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all" (Helen Keller).

I say life is either a work of art, a constant creative practice in blooming where you're planted, or nothing at all.  Loving where you live means peeking out from behind the safe curtains of your home, getting to know those both the same and different from you, letting your family mingle among others.  It means viewing your hometown with curious, watchful eyes, ready for the adventure that awaits. 

This is loving where you live.