mulberryshoots

I was thinking about this old adage the other day. Because of all the cleaning out and simplifying that has gone on this summer and into the fall, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to come across how much I have wasted because of how much I have wanted in the past. I guess it happens to all of us at one time or another. I have looked at things in my hand and wondered what could have possessed me to want to buy it in the first place!

Fortunately, I have outlets for these objects: consignment shop, auction gallery, goodwill, trash pick-up. It’s getting there. At the same time, I’ve learned how to pay more attention to cooking less because we are eating less. And to using things up in the fridge before buying more. These sound like simple rules of frugality. But I haven’t been as careful as I am now. And it’s not because I have to be, either. It’s because it feels good to do it. For George and me to share an order of a bowl of homemade clam chowder from our local restaurant up here rather than buying two orders. We don’t really need more than that, especially when we’re sharing a sandwich to go with it.

So, I’m on a binge to waste not, and more importantly, to want not. What has happened is that I am savoring more than ever what we already have. And for that, I am thankful.