All the Pretty Things
40 Things to Give Up for a Better Life
#38 Having It All
The other day I was in a store looking at planners on clearance. There was one that I fell in love with. It was striped in my favorite colors. I put it in my basket and began to move away. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted another one that said “Yes, You Can!” on the cover. I thought maybe I needed it more. I stood there for at least five minutes trying to decide which one to buy. Finally I put them both back on the shelf and forced myself to walk away.
I didn’t “need” either one. They weren’t really the size I like or the style I use. They were pretty distractions. If I had bought one or both of them, they would have gone in the box with all the other planners I’ve purchased and never used.
My adrenaline rush at finding a planner with the title of my book on it would have turned to guilt for spending money on something I would never use.
It was hard to fight the urge to buy, but leaving them on the shelf made me feel strong and disciplined. I was able to not to give in to a silly desire.
How often to we let ourselves believe we “have to have something”? Do we really need everything we think is pretty? I’m learning to enjoy beautiful things without needing to own them.
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