Being happy with having enough

I read a blog this morning about aspirations and money and the never-ending cycle of constantly striving and working to have more money to buy more stuff. It inspired me to thinking about how good a life I have and how happy I am that my family needs for nothing...sure there are things we would like and more things we would like to do that cost money..but really we don't need them and there is just as much fun to be had in the free stuff!

Recently I've been thinking about and trying to save money for a big holiday that we would like to do as a family next year. I've realised that I've gotten myself into some bad spending habits over the last few years and that these habits are difficult to curb! I will admit that it is hard for me to go to the big shopping centres and just window shop without having to really talk myself out of buying a new dress/top for my daughter or a new cool pair of shoes or train for my son. I love my kids and I love that they look adorable in their clothes and I love the look on my son's face when he gets a new train or plane toy! It makes me happy...but it also makes me happy seeing him be deliriously happy with building a cubby out of blankets and cushions from the couch or reading a book that we've been reading to him for 3 years or listening to him tell me the "three bears" story out of his head that his Nanny taught him or playing with dirt and rocks in the garden. My daughter...well she is only 9 months old and doesn't care what she is wearing as long as she is warm and comfy and that Mummy is nearby!

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need to teach myself to be happy with the things that we have and the things that we are able to do with each other as a family.


To be happy that we have a car to drive around in and not be constantly wanting a bigger car.



To be happy that we all have clothes to wear and not be sucked in by the latest cute styles and changing fashions whether they are a "bargain" or not. Five dollars is five dollars that could go towards an airfare! For me it's about being happy that I am happiest in my jeans and casual tops and not striving to try to change to another style - because I know I'll buy something different and only where it once in 12 months.

To be happy that we have shelves full of beautiful books and a library down the road full of more if we ever need them!

To be happy that I have a beautiful garden full of beautiful plants and the know-how to propagate more of them if I need too without having to buy more!



To be happy to use what I have in the house ( and please let it be known that I am a hoarder so I have a lot of stuff waiting to be used!) before going out and buying more, even if it is on sale - these days there will always be another sale!

Also, I think as consumers we have changed over the last 10-20 years to becoming "must have that now" consumers, where as it used to be all about saving up our precious penny's to buy a coveted item. Think how special it used to be... I have the image in my head of a young boy walking past a toy shop and seeing a beautiful train set or bike in the window and then coming back a few months later after saving up and working hard and then buying it. Seems like a better way to do things and to learn to appreciate the things that we do have rather than just the whole "I'll just whack it on credit and worry about it later" mentality. A much better way to bring up our children...that's what I would like anyway.

Happy that we have food in the fridge/pantry, clothes on our backs, shoes on our feet, books to read, toys to play with, craft to create with, material to sew, plants to garden, places to visit, a car to get there, dogs to play with, a warm house, money in the bank to pay for the heating bill, and most importantly EACH OTHER, to love and hug and kiss and cuddle and laugh and live beside.