Long before Miley Cyrus belted out her hit song “Flowers” I used to have flowers delivered to my office every week.
Yes, every week!
I started this about 15 years ago. I always loved when a colleague or even a patient would send me a flower arrangement. I would put them at my front desk as it brightened everyone’s day, especially as patients were checking in or out.
One day I realized that I could buy myself flowers and enjoy this every week. It just so happened that a patient’s husband owned a floral shop in downtown Seattle and made flower deliveries to many offices and businesses.
So, I signed up for weekly deliveries. He’d come every Monday morning around 7:00 am, and would swap out the old vase with the new flower arrangement. They were often seasonal, in different vases, and always eye-catching. They would easily last seven days, so never looked old. I knew there was nothing worse than dead or dying flowers (or a dead aquarium fish) in a medical office.
I marveled at how the flowers were magnetizing. So many patients, nearby staff, colleagues and visitors would comment. Some would walk down my hallway just to see the flowers. They often sparked discussion. I could tell they were uplifting.
Even more importantly, my staff loved them and I loved them. It was wonderful to have a splash of beauty even on days that were stressful or intense. Especially on those days.
I became known for my flowers. Patients knew they were in the wrong office if they didn’t see the flowers. They were a way-finding beacon in a large organization.
Moral of my story: buy yourself flowers. Often! Spread the magic, and drink in the beauty. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference.
Enjoy a few office arrangements from over the years:
