Thought of the day

I read this on threads - someone said that this is what girls have learnt by the time they are 21 -

life is only worth living if you focus on your 

community, hobbies, and small joys

I have to confess that I did not know this when I was 21.  But I definitely know it now.  And how wonderful if young women are realizing it sooner! 

Things I am not buying today

I read something on threads where a woman was saying how she fills her shopping cart and then never buys it.  I know how she feels. What I do is have a pinterest page called Things I am not buying today - and if I see something I like,  I grab that image and save it to that page.  And then a while later I look at it and see if I still need it. So often they go stale as they sit in the folder,  and it's easy to delete them.  Sometimes they don't,  and then I do the math and see if it's time to buy them.  I also have pinterest pages for other things I like to collect,  like teapots, or shoes. 

This works for everything except beads.  I can buy beads every day.  I don't,  but the desire never leaves. I have a  pinterest page of bead designs that excite me,  and I really do love it! 

Another thing is,  when you collect beads,  sooner or later you do have to do something with them and then one day you wake up and realize you have 57 necklaces,  and really, no one needs that many necklaces. Moving to creating bracelets does not help long term.  So I give them as birthday gifts.  Personal,  with the colors you love,  for an outfit I know.  And some people ask me why I don't sell them,  and I say,  you don't have to monetize everything.  Some things you can do just for love/joy.  

So let yourself go wild with a pinterest page of things you are not buying today,  it really does help,  and clients have fed back to me that it did make them feel less deprived and they really didn't need to buy most of it a month or so later.  And let yourself do crafts/ bake/ make - just for the sake of making. Share what you love,  and don't feel guilty if you are not hustling to make it something bigger.  Keeping you creative is big enough!