Saying No

Happy Tuesday,

How are you all doing on this fabulous Tuesday morning? All is well here. The pups and I are kitty sitting for my nieces. Pepper the cat hardly comes out of hiding with the pups here, but he does enjoy knowing there’s activity and noise in his home. He’s so much calmer with the hustle and bustle. He plays peek-a-boo with Molly, then jumps up on a counter or on one of his kitty trees. Silly pets. They certainly do have their own unique way of communicating.

So, you all know John and I have been on this journey called chaos in life. Seems we ground ourselves for a quick moment then the universe says heck no. Here’s more challenges for you to conquer. I would say bring it on; however, I think it’s safe to say, we are more than ready for a break from crazy. I’m sure you can all relate. At least life isn’t boring.

With my ever-descending lack of energy due to low iron levels and the mystery leak in my body, I’m tired. I am so ready to feel better and there are days I can hardly move. I was telling my daughter-in-law to be how I’ve been feeling. She said once I get my infusion I might have GI symptoms for a couple of days, but after that she said I’ll have more energy than I know what to do with. To that I say, bring it on. I have a craft fair to get ready for and I only have 4 weeks to finish all my crafting. Real Rankins Art is ready to launch.

Now to figure out what to wear to my 10- hour-infusion session. Oh, did I tell you, one of the nurses called me yesterday to tell me that because my iron levels are so low the infusion may go as long as 10 hours?

What happened to 6-8 hours I asked. To which she replied, that could happen. We hope that happens. You just never know.

Okay, I’ve got my cross-stich project. I’ve got a nice long, good book and my laptop. I’ve also got a nice thick Cuddle Duds cozy pajama wrap. I figure infusion centers aren’t the warmest places to be, so I’m bringing back up comfy with me.

Now to swing by Stater Bros. to pick up some snacks to keep me from get hangry.

With all the stressors in my world I’m still diving deep into my podcasts and positive YouTube channels. These seem to really be keeping me focused. John and I have some goals we are reaching for right now and I really need to keep my unnecessary spending in check.

You guys will be so proud of me. I was in Walmart last week and I saw the cutest lounge outfit. I put it in my shopping cart. Strolled around the store with it, then headed towards the checkout line. But I couldn’t bring myself to reach that line without stopping back at the home of all the other lounge outfits.

You see, I’ve come to realize, when I’m stressed, I tend to spend and that’s a horrible habit. So, I challenged myself with no spending on things that I don’t need. Wants are okay from time to time, but right now, if it’s not a need, I won’t be getting it.

I did take a picture of the outfit. Wanna see? Okay! Here it is:

Wouldn’t this be the cutest to wear while sitting out on my balcony writing in the cool, breezy mornings, drinking a hot cup of coffee? Yup! It would be. But I do have other cute loungewear, so this will go on my back burner or maybe it’ll go on my Christmas wish list. We’ll see.

I’m not so sure why I like the Grinch, but I do. Last month while shopping Hobby Lobby with my friend Susan I saw the most incredible Grinch Christmas Tree, but I said no.

It really feels good to say no to impulse buying. Believe me, it’s not always easy. Not that there’s anything wrong with impulse buys, but it must be done in moderation and I’m working on being more mindful of separating my needs from my wants. So, for now, buying will be very intentional and less on a whim.

The quote below really helps shed light on impulse controlling. Impulse buying and value of not only money, but time go hand in hand. Being impulsive can be exciting. It can lead to some incredible adventures, but guys, if you’re anything like me, impulsive behaviors need to be kept in check.

The chart below will be one I refer to often moving forward. Simple questions, yet powerful:

Saying no really gave me power. I walked out of Walmart so proud of myself. Could I afford the Grinch outfit? Sure. Do I need it? No. Would I wear it? Of course. So according to the above chart, it seems to be falling in the hmmm area. Therefore, I’ll think about it and if I remember it come Christmas wish list time, then I’ll add it, if not, then onto the next temptation.

Listening to so many uplifting things lately has helped me realize I have way bigger goals in mind then simply buying a cute outfit. Instead of $20 for an outfit that I’ll only wear around the house and on the balcony writing, I could use the $20 to buy a gallon of paint. I could use it towards the purchase of a lime tree. So many other things I could put the money towards, or I could deposit it into a savings account and watch it grow over the next 15 years, which seems to be the smarter course of action to take, at least in my case.

Saying no isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s really difficult. But when we put our priorities in their proper place, saying no gets easier and easier over time. Yesterday when I walked into Walmart I did walk by the outfit, but I didn’t stop. I just kept trekking along. I only bought the much-needed things for our family and headed to the checkout. Again, I walked out feeling a sense of pride for not falling into buying temptations.

Now that I know I can control what I buy, I need to keep looking forward, ask the questions above and prioritize my needs from my wants.

I have 15 years to help earn more retirement for me and John. I have talent. I can write. I can craft and I can put my skills to work for us and contribute towards our golden years.

I’m thankful that I ran across some great reminders on YouTube and the various podcasts. I’m thankful John continues to encourage me to utilize my God-given talents and I’m grateful he loves me through the crazy in my mind, especially when I spin and can’t seem to ground myself and simply, get started.

Life is hard enough without giving into impulses. When we stay focused on the bigger picture our wants no longer control us, our needs do.

My sons said something to me not long ago; “mom, there’s not a lot of stuff you have that we want. Sure, there’s some keepsakes we will inherit, but mom, the rest of the stuff, we’ll donate.”

What’s important to me isn’t necessarily important to the boys and I get it. We have different taste. We have different likes and dislikes, so accumulating things that will either be tossed or go to charity, it really puts buying into perspective.

What our kids want, what our families want, it’s not things, it’s memories. So, think about it before you buy one more thing for your home that is a want and not a need, is it worth it?

When John and I combined two households it created so much clutter. We have or had nearly 2 of everything and in some cases, we had multiples. Guys, that’s a sign of STOP! With the kind reminder of, really, how much more do you think you need?

Personally, when I put things in this kind of mindset, saying no is way easier. Therefore, moving forward, I’ll be doing a lot less purchasing and a lot more creating so I can maybe become a little successful with my crafting. Craft fairs, especially around the holidays are a great way to make some cash. Count me in.

One thing I think my boys will cherish when I exit this life is being able to go back and read my blogs. They’ll be able to see your comments and maybe, just maybe they’ll wear a badge of pride for me knowing I maybe helped one person along the way.

Well guys, it’s time to head out to pick up the kid, then I need to finishing getting my things packed for tomorrow so all I have to do is put it in the car and head out.

Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy hanging out by way of blogging.

Don’t forget, until next time, Love Life++ Hugs.