Joyful Musings: I Choose To Keep My Plastic Corgis

By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings, InDepth NH

The mother of my friend, Helen, texts her daughter daily pictures of various items from Helen’s childhood home along with the question, “Do you want this?” Helen laughs in a way daughters laugh at their mothers, both annoyed and grateful. And as she looks at pictures of bureaus and china, couches and rugs, more often than not, she simply replies, “No, thanks.”

I muse joyfully on the question, “Do you want this?” as it’s both beautiful and clarifying, kind and efficient. It’s what a great many of us are asking now with things, with politics, with life.

“Do you want this?” implies action – do you really want to accept this in your life – be it a sweater or a politician. Are you sure? Really? It’s a good question to pause upon on so many levels; we get to decide with our actions, our votes, our time. More often than not, we are encouraged to rush through and decide NOW. Oh, no, Dear Musers, take your time. YOU decide.

Do you want this? That invites choice. There are more pictures and pieces of furniture that may better suit your home than that side board the size of Cuba or perhaps that sweater that reminds you of a Christmas you’d rather forget. There are others that warm you internally, externally, figuratively and literally. This may not be it.

And so the same with people, particularly in this time of choice. If you haven’t figured out a time and place to vote, get on it, Musers, otherwise, you cannot complain about this as you’ve not spoken – or voted – your truth.

And the beauty of Helen’s mother is Helen is given both agency and choice, asked rather than told. Things matter, some items we just simply love and delight in, they warm our hearts and souls. I have two little dogs I named, “Eddy and Teddy.” They are plastic corgis I found years ago in a thrift shop and they lived in one of our old Volvos on the dashboard. I delight in them, they continue to adorn my home with levity and memories. I do want them, of that I know for sure. I have the agency to toss or keep. I keep.

“Do you want this?” asks if this works for you. That is glorious freedom, glorious choice, a question not to be taken for granted. There are many people in political offices who I do not want and will be grateful when they go into the donation pile. I do not want them as they haven’t worked for me. I love having a choice.

I muse joyfully you are often asked what you want and you take the time to answer in a way that works for you, Dear Musers. Honesty to oneself with people, places and things is a lifetime endeavor. Celebrate “Do you want this?” in whatever form you’d like. I muse joyfully you find your own best answer.

Susan Dromey Heeter writes from Newmarket and often from the road where she joyfully muses on life in the fast and slow lanes. She drives a stick shift, can also ride a unicycle and recently retired after 30+ years of teaching. Dromey Heeter finds joy primarily in Milk Duds and people who make her laugh, not necessarily in that order. Follow Susan @dromeyheeter on Instagram and/or @BudgetVogue63. She can also be reached at dromeyheeter@gmail.com.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.