Simple Sacrifices.

I love chips.

Most people who know me have been perfectly aware of this for quite some time.  I am known for eating nearly an entire bag on my own.  I'm not a sweets fiend, but when it comes to the salty, fried goodness of a chip I simply cannot say no.

I was discussing this one day with a co-worker and she said she is starting to feel like she just doesn't need them.  I asked if she just didn't like them and she responded "I don't like the bags they come in."  It kind of threw me for a loop.  While I recycle bottles, paper, and plastics of all kind I had never thought that my chip addiction made for excessive waste.  The bags simply aren't recyclable.

As I eat other foods that are in packaging that don't say they can be recycled, I wonder if it's really worth it.  Is it worth it to have a candy bar?  Is it worth it to buy a box of macaroni and cheese?  Are my cravings that much more important than the needs of others?  Are they more important than the waste I am creating?

Reading "Living More with Less" has made me realize; Life is full of many small decisions that are very important.  We cannot live simply without having to make all these small decisions.  Choosing the car to drive five minutes to a store that I could just as easily walk to.  Not purchasing tomatoes until they are in season locally so I'm not contributing to the extra fuel it took to get them here.  And not eating chips.

Many small sacrifices I hadn't even thought of.

A business all my own.

In an effort to get away from always having to work for people, I'm considering the idea of selling my craft and sewing projects.  If nothing else, it should provide me with an excellent hobby and many Christmas and birthday gifts for the next year or two.  Here is a book I'm currently reading to gain some insight into this kind of business.  If you're interested in this kind of thing as well, I encourage you to take a look at this informational tool.

Initial investments are rough.  And what if things don't take off the way you had hoped?  Starting a business is difficult, no matter how small.  However, I must say that I prefer the work involved in creating handbags and Vegan bath and beauty products to ringing up groceries day after day.

Will this actually work?  Who knows.  But I'm willing to start small and see how it goes.

Life is an adventure.

Life isn't fair.

Doing the right thing has consequences.  Purchasing healthier food can be far more expensive than choosing highly processed foods.  A mother leaving an abusive relationship with her children will face severe financial difficulties and a whole lot of emotional baggage.  But when it's all said and done, the end result farther down the road is much better than what it would have been had the right thing not been chosen.

I have made hard decisions.  The right decisions, but hard ones nonetheless.  And in the end, it will be better but the process of getting to the end is difficult.  Life isn't fair.

Oh well.

This last month and half I have found myself in a binge.  A spending binge, an eating binge, a drinking binge.  And I must say, having to look at how I have completely gone above and beyond my budget for the month is terribly embarrassing, even though I am the only one looking at it.

We all know that balance is the best.  That too much of a good thing is no longer "good."  But what is it that brings us to overindulgence time and time again?  Is it our culture?  Is it emotional, mental or physical? It's a painful process to realize what you have done and take on the consequences (6 lbs added and less financial freedom for the next few months).  It's even more painful to realize that you cannot stop.

But I have hope.  I can overcome these obstacles.  It can be done.

 

Creating Meaning

I have found my hobby.  Crafts.

As a child I loved making things.  Salt dough, paper, cardboard and acrylic paint made up a majority of Christmas gifts year after year.  When I got a little older, I was in 4-H and learned how to do some serious "crafting" such as sewing clothes.  I truly enjoyed going to my aunt or grandma's house to use their stamping supplies.  Since I was no "artist," I had to figure out some other way to enjoy myself.  But as I grew older the time to dedicate to projects dwindled.  My schedule filled with dance classes, school, music and theater.  Clearly those were very valuable experiences as well, but I have always felt something was missing.

And then I got a sewing machine for Christmas.

Erik's mom, Lee Ann, is such a dear and gave me a sewing machine with all the accessories.  My delight could hardly be hidden.  Shortly after Christmas I found a simple project (a yoga mat bag) and headed to the fabric store.  Picking out exactly what I wanted, matching thread to the material and carefully placing it in my basket was like a child in a candy store.  Watching that bag take shape as I sewed the pieces together was an extraordinary experience.  I was making this!

After that project, I have sought out other things, such as a large tote bag and my grandma gave me a gift of several sewing project kits including decorative pillows.   And now I am moving on to things away from the sewing machine, such as hair pins, jewelry and wreaths.  Seeking out all sorts of things I could make on my own makes me feel accomplished.  I am creating.

I am.

My new tote bag.  The fabric is pre-quilted, giving it a Vera Bradley look.

One of my flower hairpins.  I singed the edges of the fabric so it would curl.