Tara Schuster opens with the titular practice — buying herself flowers regularly — as a small, concrete ritual that became her entry point into much deeper personal healing work.

Why this small ritual mattered so much:

• Starting with something small and achievable made the broader project of self-care and healing feel less overwhelming
• The ritual provided consistent, tangible evidence of self-worth even before deeper emotional work had fully progressed
• Small rituals can function as a foothold into larger change, rather than requiring the larger change to happen first

This opening establishes the book's overall approach: starting with small, concrete actions rather than waiting to feel emotionally ready for larger transformation.