One of the suggestions we make to our workshop participants is to use your good china rather than to allow the dust to collect on it in your china cabinet or worse yet to leave it packed away in boxes.
My age group is probably among the last to even have “good china” – i.e. a separate set of dishes that you have for “special occasions”.
Read on and see photos below, or listen in as I tell you the story from my kitchen.
The challenge came to me on a new level recently. I have been pretty good at using my good dishes over the years. I have them stored right in my kitchen so they are easy to access. They are plain white with a raised pattern on the rim and dishwasher safe.
On this particular Saturday Hayley arrived with a few rubbermaid totes full of my mom’s good dishes. She didn’t have a spot for them at her new apartment and wondered if I would store them for her. It prompted me to think……why don’t I use them instead of sticking the bins in the attic until some future date when Hayley may have room for them.
I had been wanting a change in the dishes that I had have been using for everyday. They were old, although there was nothing really wrong with them.
I figured now was the time to practice what I preach.
I unloaded my everyday Corelle from its spot in my cupboards and put my own good dishes in there. Yep, I’m going to use them every day.Â
I unpacked my Mom’s good china (white with a teal leaf pattern and silver edge) and put it in the spot where my own good china had been.
The plan now is to use my own china every day. Why not? What is the worst thing that could happen? A piece could get broken, but life will go on.
I’ll use my Mom’s china for special occasions and I’ll put it in the dishwasher. What is the worst thing that could happen? A piece could get broken. The silver edge could come off. They will still be beautiful dishes. They make me smile when I see them (both my own and my Mama’s) and the more they are out of the cupboards and in my hands and on my table the more smiles that means, and smiles are a good thing.
What do you think? Can you do it? Pull your old “everyday” dishes out of the cupboard and get rid of them. Put your “good” dishes in their place and use them every day. You are as good as any “special occasion” and deserve to use your happy dishes every day. Let me know what you think on this topic!
We downsized last January. I changed out my dishes, and have never regreted it. You have inspired me to be sure to display and use my Christmas dishes begining Nov 1. Thank you!
Hi Debi: Now that I am a month+ into using my good dishes, I too have no regrets. On the weekend Murray was BBQing and he had meat on a good china plate that was going out to the BBQ. I found that a hard one, and suggested he take a pyrex pie plate instead of the good one. It’s one thing to use the china in the house, but felt like an all together different thing to send it outside 😉 It is a process!
We are into November so assuming that you are enjoying your Christmas dishes now? I love Christmas and if space allowed I do think that I would also use and enjoy Christmas dishes!
Donna
Another liberating thing to do is BUY your own every day dishes. I’ve been using my grandmother’s every day and “good” dishes (but not the “best” set – which is not dishwasherable) for years. I love them, and they remind me of my childhood. But a few months ago I went and bought some corelle luncheon plates in a pretty pattern that were on sale, and they make me even happier!
I like your suggestion Ursula! I think we both agree on the key point……make sure that the dishes you are using make you happy 🙂
ds