Special Gifts and When Do We Have Enough?

A few weeks ago I was surprised with this lovely gift from Rosie at Journey to Charm.  For now, it is perched in front of me on my desk with it's sweet thank-you card peeping out of the top.  I have decided that Rosie's suggestion for a plant was the best idea and so I have been shopping for the "perfect" plant.  In the meantime, it brings a smile to my face every day.

And the teacup card?  From Susan at Writing Straight From the Heart.  I've watched Susan progress (in a very short time) from a brand new blogger to a whiz-kid at the computer.  She always has beautiful pictures and something positive to say. 

When Do We Have Enough?

I really love visiting decorating blogs.  I also love visiting "minimalist" blogs.  Rather schizophrenic, in my opinion, and destined to make me even crazier than I already am. 

Many of the minimalist blogs are really a bit over the top.  Personally, I not planning on living with 100 things, nor do I think doing so will "save the planet."  On the other hand, some of the decorating blogs (that I no longer visit), really stressed buying more and more "stuff" - most of which was really expensive. 

In the middle we have the "normal" people, struggling with day to day decisions and wanting their surroundings to be pretty without putting the family in financial jeopardy.  Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage and Jan at Bobbypinsboardwalk come to mind.  I've also noticed many of the "decor" blogs are moving into new areas and exploring new options for their lives such as Cindy at My Romantic Home. 

Right now I'm in the process of piling stuff up in by barn (garage) to either give away, list on Etsy, or sell at a (GASP) garage sale (it's been enough years that I've forgotten the pain of the last one.)   I feel like I'm drowning in "stuff", even though I am far removed from a hoarder type. Much of the "stuff" is left-overs from when I had a space in an antique mall and some of it is just the "I don't know what to do with it stuff."  I'm even getting rid of some of my books - now that's a biggie!!

 The questions for you are:

How much is enough and what really matters to you?

What I'm reading...

I'm a sucker for "self-help" type books.  The problem is that now-a-day so many of them  are nothing more than New Age clap-trap and are very dangerous to one's spiritual life.

I was not overly optimistic when I checked out "The Courage to be Brilliant", by Marta Monahan from the library.  The title sounded a bit fishy, but the price was right.  I have found it to be a very simple to read and quite inspiring book and would highly recommend it to anyone.  Check to see if they have it at your library or grab a copy from Amazon (they have used ones starting at $1.91.)

From Amazon:

Have you ever believed that you can do more, be more, or have more? Do you see flashes of your lost brilliance in the accomplishments of others? Are you hiding your truth simply to keep the peace?
If so, The Courage to be Brilliant is just for you. Marta Monahan, one of the USA's leading voices on personal achievement, shares her secrets for avoiding the dullness that comes from settling for less. Her Five Acts of Improvement begin working the moment you try them.

You will also discover:

• What holds you back and clouds your purpose
• The Three Levels of Thought and how they affect your actions
• How to develop your unique Five Acts of Improvement to alter the course of your life
• Why radical changes never work
• What to do if you cannot envision a life of brilliance

At any given time I am usually reading four of five books.  Each day I try to read something "intellectual" (usually history or politics), spiritual, self-improvement (which really can be the same as spiritual), and for fun there is always mysteries or novels.  I just started Jane Smiley's new book, "Private Lives",  and it looks like it will be as good as A Thousand Acres, for which she won a Pulitzer Prize.