Enjoy!

Are there things in your life that are 'too nice to use'? Things such as fancy soap, nice linens, or some lovely holiday candles? Why do we do that?

Try going to an estate sale or an auction of an estate. Many times you will find every day items that were tools in the loving hands that lived simple lives. Kitchen utensils or towels that were made for function and put to use in someone's home will show the evidence of usefulness; worn handles or threadbare washcloths. It is understandable that something be left for special days that are set apart from the mundane daily life.
But what is the signal to let the good stuff to jump out of storage into the glory of being used?

I was recently at an auction where there were boxes of fancy soaps and candles that never had the honor of being put to use. It seemed tragic to me, that some unknown person had probably received gifts from family members of gift soap or hand dipped candles and never felt that there was an occasion to put them to use. All of us leave all of our personal belongings behind eventually when our days come to an end. Use that fancy soap! Light that decorative candle and allow it to fragrance your everyday tasks. Isn't that better than boxes of these things filling your closets?
Isn't it a sign of great regard to give a gift with function and beauty? When you see something being used that you gave as a gift, doesn't it put a lift in your step? What a high complement to the maker that an instrument is used to make beautiful music!

So go ahead, use the gift soaps that some loved one gave you for your birthday and light those expensive candles. They look so much better than in a box full of stuff that was too nice to use.