with a cart full to running over of food and other items for home consumption and use, and found myself grousing about (1) time spent shopping, (2) money spent, (3) effort to take it all home and put it away, (4) effort required to use the purchases (such as storing, cooking, serving and eating) and then, realized what I was doing.
"Ok, self," I said to myself. "Are you actually griping because you could shop for and buy what you wanted and needed to prepare a good meal!" Yep, I sure was. Now ain't that a funny way to start a 'thanksgiving' holiday.
Just another reminder that I am part of the large, self-indulged middle class. The place I said I'd never be is where I am. Back when it was a serious challenge to pay the rent and buy the groceries and keep clothes on two kids, I swore I wouldn't fall into the trap of having too much and wanting more. AND yet, I complain about my level of comfort and requirements placed on me to maintain it.
So, just for the record, I am thankful and grateful that we have too much food to eat, that I have a home and am comfortable in it, that my bills are paid and I can manage on the money left over, that my children are well and, from all I can tell, happy; that I have friends who care about me and show me in many ways; that I have family that love me and treat me with respect and care.
As Sara Ban Breathnach says in Simple Abundance, sufficient is abundance in that time and place. Perhaps we are unhappy for the wanting of more, not the having of what there is.
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