I became the Flower Lady just about two years ago. It has been a life-changing experience for me. Today, I took lots of pretty potted plants and flowers to a senior community. Just about everybody in the group was Independent. I placed the pots on the table and within a few minutes, they were gone. People were happily walking to the elevator to take them to their apartments. And on to the little cafe that is part of the community – six people happy to receive plants. And then passed them out in a restaurant parking lot. And at a nursing home. Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! Just a lovely way to stay in physical and emotional shape!
How I “Found My Happy” Tonight!
I had a little party at my house this afternoon. As I was cleaning up, I remembered that I still had the flowers in the car. Six trash bags of them. About 60 bouquets. I went to a senior low-income housing apartment building. I buzzed the doorbell and told the lady in the wheelchair that I had flowers to pass out. “Oh, we are having BINGO and card games tonight at 7 pm.”
I loaded the flowers into a couple of green shopping carts and took them down to the recreation room. Five ladies had already started their card game… but they gladly put that on hold so they could select the flowers.
The lady who let me in – Sally – had asked me to leave two bags next to the elevator. She wanted to be the one to tell everybody about the surprise.
As I was arranging the flowers, she said,” I am calling everybody.”
“Yes, Margaret. This is Sally from downstairs. They are real. Real flowers for free. You better hurry up and get down here if you want to get them. They sure are a blessing.”
“Hi Esther. This is Sally. There is a surprise waiting for you down by the elevator. It is like a miracle. I am stunned. Hurry down, you can choose the one that you want. No, I am not telling you what the surprise is…..but you can put it on your kitchen table. And it is smaller than a breadbox. No more clues. That’s it.”
“The Gift of Believing in Yourself” – Video by Patricia Gallagher
Please click on the link below to view a video that I put together to accompany my forthcoming book which we will be on Amazon on May 15th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFYtWtmyMW0
One of my magical days of flowering – WAWA
Moving Forward with Claire’s Front Porch
Happy Flower Day Promo Video
I produced a promo video about my Happy Flower Day project. Enjoy!
Baby Bridget Joined the Happy Flower Day Brigade!
Seventy bouquets delivered to visitors and staff at Abington Hospital and then on to an adult day care center for senior citizens in Harleysville. When Baby Bridget arrived in her stroller, the residents were so happy to see a great combination – beautiful baby and 67 bouquets of bright flowers! Each resident had a vase at their table place setting. And then they went to work arranging the flowers in the vases – making the tabletops look so Easter-y! Purple, yellow and pink blooms brightened the day for everybody. And Baby did too.
But the day was not done for the Flower People. We met Bridget’s granddaddy and he entertained her while I had my line dancing lesson. Off to lunch and some errands……and back to her house with a half hour to spare until her Daddy came home. I love my Baby Bridget and my flower project.
This is how we begin our flowering day. The flowers wait for our arrival in shopping carts!
Help us pray for peace – one prayer at a time
The Ten Commandments for Middle-Aged Moms by Patricia Gallagher
In my “other life” when I am not doing the Happy Flower Day Project, I am an author/writer.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR MIDDLE-AGE MOMS
Permission is granted to reproduce for any purpose provided credit is given as follows:
The Ten Commandments for Middle-Aged Moms was written by Patricia Gallagher, the creator of the Team of Angels pins and the author of fourteen books. Please share freely!
1. You are the best mother that you know how to be. Promise yourself you will never again second-guess any decisions that you made while raising your children. You already spent hours of your life thinking about what you said or did to the kids that you regret. You can’t go back in time for even a minute, so apologize to yourself, or to someone else, because whatever it is – it is still hurting you. Everything that you did was the very best that you knew how to do at the time. Now, that you are older and have matured in your personal growth, you have gained coping skills and parenting skills that will help with present and future healthier family communication and interaction. You learned hard-earned lessons through life experiences. Hopefully, your children have seen you overcome and evolve. You can now model behaviors that will help them to be parents who raise their children in a healthy environment.
2. Thou shalt not beat yourself up or ruminate over what you could have, should have or would have done in the past. We have all made mistakes related to money, relationships, employment, family issues, and unacceptable behavior. Carrying that guilt of bad feelings about yourself is stifling to your present lifestyle. Forgive yourself, hug yourself, bless yourself and pat yourself on the back for all that you did to love your children.
3. Remember to keep holy the memory of the good times. The birthday parties, the school functions, the neighborhood and family gatherings – and all of the things that you did to show your love to your child. The little notes that you wrote, the little acts of kindness that you showed every day, the special words of endearment and love nicknames and the ways that you taught your children to care about others. How you helped with homework assignments, checked in with the teachers when there was a problem, acted as a referee when there was a conflict with a sibling or friend, took them to the zoo, played games, read them stories, made cookies and treats, attended their sporting events and music lessons, and how you soothed hurt feelings and scraped knees.
4. Honor thy wonderful person that you are now – and that you always were. You weren’t perfect and nobody is perfect -even the other mothers who looked so perfect. They probably weren’t if you asked their kids.
5. Thou shalt not tell yourself that you were not good enough, successful enough, pretty enough, smart enough, resourceful enough, creative enough, worthy of love.
6. Thou shalt not criticize thyself when looking in the mirror and seeing a reflection that has aged – gracefully or not gracefully. It does not matter. You are a wonderful woman who loved with all of your heart, despite some very challenging circumstances – much of which you bore as burdens on your own.
7. Thou shalt not compare yourself to anyone. You shall appreciate the new beginnings in your life as a mother whose children have grown up and no longer live in the Mother Bird’s nest.
8. Thou shalt not wish to be like anyone else.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s children, spouse, home, car, possessions, vacation home, or bank account balance. Doing so will only make you feel low in comparison.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s – anything at all. Being jealous or envious steals your peace and energy. The time that you spend wishing that things in your life were more like someone else’s life is never going to make you feel better. When that happens, force yourself to grab a pen and paper and start writing a gratitude list. You shall appreciate all of the goodness that you have shown to your children and all of the good that others have shown to your children.
You may have seen Patricia on Oprah, CNN, The CBS Early Show, The 700 Club, CNBC, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Maury Povich. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Gannett and AP wire services, Family Circle, Woman’s World, Parents Magazine and others. She welcomes interviews, speaking engagements and consultations.
Contact:
Written by:
Patricia C. Gallagher BA, MBA
E mail: theangelpinlady@gmail.com
Cell: 267 939 0365
http://www.patriciausa.com
Just received this letter from a lady who wants to do The Happy Flower Day Project!
Hello Patricia ... I loved your testimony in the Angels on Earth magazine and wonderful life changing acts of
kindness. You offered a pdf to be sent on How you contacted Trader Joe's and other
important information. I have always loved giving. When my husband of 30 years passed away - I learned it in an even greater depth
that we are love and when we stop loving it hurts. When I give love it feels
good. To fill the gap of the love I had for him I began giving acts of kindness
expressing love to strangers and those along my path. I love surprises!! So I
gave surprises. God's Name "Wonderful" means full of miracles and surprises. I
believe in miracles and saw they day after day. I started giving whenever I was
anxious or grieving to bless someone else and how much it blessed me and helped
me daily overcome grief with new found courage. I was widowed at 47 and I am now
61. Bless you Patricia! Here is my phone number. I would love to talk to you. “Baby, It’s cold outside!” Flowers warm the heart and soul!
Today, I have 100 gorgeous bouquets to pass out -most are red rose bouquets. Yesterday, I had the same amount. So on Thursday, I went to Luther Park and Wesley Enhanced Living in Montgomery County. Today, off to Harlee Manor in Delaware County and for the random people that I meet along my flowering way – toll collectors, people pumping their gas at WAWA, local store owners such as the Dog Groomer who lives near me……..and tonight, I will take the overflow to a dance for senior citizens in Warminster.
Just received a letter from the Monastery of Saint Clare – flowers
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for the lovely flowers that you leave for us. We are so happy to have them to grace the statues of Mary and Saint Anthony. It is so thoughtful of you to remember us in this way. We keep you and your family in our prayers asking that you be blessed in all of your many endeavors throughout this new year,
With love, prayers and gratitude,
The Poor Clares of Langhorne
What flowers express to nursing home residents – attention, beauty, caring, love!
Video of the Happy Flower Project – Blooming Smiles
Right now, 60% of residents of nursing homes do not have friends or family that visit. We believe that no one should go without the gift of a cheerful bouquet several times throughout the year — not just during the holidays.
Our mission is to spread love and joy to seniors in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and anywhere else they may be found by bringing them flowers donated by generous individuals and organizations. Please click the link below to view the smiling faces of the Random Acts of Flowering recipients.
Oh, Happy Day! Oh, Happy Flower Day to All!
Roses, Tulips and other Greenery Make for a Happy Morning!
Article in Angels on Earth Magazine. February Issue – “Say It with Flowers!”
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Jan/Feb 2015 Issue of Angels on Earth Magazine – Division of Guideposts Magazine
By Patricia Gallagher
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS!
For the last two years I’ve been picking up day-old bouquets from Trader Joe’s and delivering them to anyone I think needs a bit of beauty—nursing homes, half-way houses, even bus stops and train stations. I call it the “Happy Flower Day Project.”
In the beginning my little project helped me cope while my mother struggled with health problems. Becoming the Flower Lady got me up and dressed with something positive to focus on. I have a few places I visit regularly, but when I feel led somewhere new I walk in and ask a nurse or manager if I can bring in the blooms.
Giving someone flowers out of the blue always gets a smile, and even the Trader Joe’s employees are happy they don’t have to throw out perfectly good flowers.
By the grace of God, I’ve helped smiles bloom on almost 31,000 faces, and I’m just getting started. God, who needs a beautiful bouquet today?’
(Patricia welcomes interviews and speaking enagements. May be available on short notice.)
Patricia Gallagher, Box 561, Worcester, PA 19490
http://www.happyflowerday.com
Phone: 267 939 0365
This makes me smile!
When I moved to Limerick this past summer, I arranged for a local nursing home to pick up the flowers that I normally picked up from that location. I started my new Happy Flower Day pick-ups at the Trader Joe’s that was closest to my new home. I just received this email from the Program Director at the nursing home about how they are using the flowers. They began joining the project in June, 2014 so they have been the recipients of thousands of beautiful bouquets!
Trisha,
Yes, Trader Joe’s is still leaving beautiful bags of flowers for me to pick up on dock about 9:00 AM. On Fridays, I usually get about three to four bags worth of flowers. It’s wonderful. We are doing flower arrangements with different level of care units, mostly on Monday and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the flowers go out to our hospice patients in the community. It has been such a joy for all that get them. Will talk soon. Hope all is well with you. Mona
Flowers are a cure for the blues!
Meet the Flower Lady – who delivers surprise bouquets to those hurting, or lonely in her community. 23,612 bouquets of free fresh bouquets have been passed out since May, 2013.
The problem is that she spends a hundred dollars a week in gas and tolls and can no longer afford to do it. Patricia Gallagher’s volunteer job is distributing day-old bouquets that would otherwise be thrown away to the residents of nursing homes, hospitals and other places in Philadelphia and the suburbs. Her “Happy Flower Day” project has touched thousands of people and provided her with a “whole new world of giving.”
The Happy Flower Day project was born in May 2013 after Trisha attended a fundraising event put on by a non-profit organization. Flowers for the event had been given by a specialty supermarket. They asked Trisha’s daughter, who worked for the organization, if she knew of any hospitals or nursing homes that might want some of the flowers they would be throwing away.
Patricia contacted the store and asked if she could pick up the flowers every morning – seven days a week.
“I am addicted to the happiness that I feel when I give away the bouquets,” she says. “I’ve watched lots of people eagerly grasp the flowers, smelling them, touching them and holding them close to their hearts.”
Trisha is rewarded with surprised smiles and grateful hearts.
Her own heart is broken now because her dear mother who went along with her on many visits passed away. She would like to continue the project in her mother’s name. Her mother was 88 years old. She has used her personal savings and is hoping that someone will hear of her project and contribute gas money and toll money so she can continue bringing petals and blooms to folks who need a little sunshine in their day.
