What is more important ...

It's been an interesting couple of months. As I've mentioned a few times, September and October were the best "mood months" I've had in years. Attributed, in my mind at least, to not consuming sugar. Then I started work at the Wetaskiwin Library, and because of reduced time to: exercise; take care of things that I felt needed to be done; go to my yoga classes; etc., I started to feel crappy, over-react to things, and generally just not be my new normal, balanced self.



Originally, I decided to take on this job because an extra $400 per month would be helpful, I'd get out of the house and see people, make new friends, etc. And it sounded like a good idea. In retrospect, for whatever reasons, it's affecting my health - both physical and mental. So it is not worth it.



So I started thinking ... what is more important to me than the $12/hr that I was making at the Library? And that led to thinking: What is more important than money or the things it can buy? Of course, I can only have these thoughts because we have enough money. Not enough money to travel the world, maybe, but enough money to live comfortably, to buy healthy food, to be entertained when we choose. If we didn't, this list would be very different. Priorities change with one's place in the world. But for now:




  • My health is more important than money or the things it can buy.

  • My family is more important than money or the things it can buy.

  • My goals in life are more important than money or the things it can buy.

  • The time to make and grow homemade, healthy food is more important than money or the things it can buy.

and, of course, there are many, many more I could write. I've learned over the years that although I can be motivated by money, other things motivate me more. And feeling good is definitely one of them. When you feel that crappy and how how to fix it, you do.



These priorities are mine. I'm sure there are lots of people out there who put money above their health, or (sadly) above their families, or their goals (or maybe money is their goal) ... and that is their free will to do so. But I wondered about those of you reading this. And I wonder what your lists would look like. You don't need to share them with me, because such things can be highly personal, but I felt the urge to write this at this time. Maybe it's the season, or maybe someone out there needed a reminder. I'm not sure. But here it is if you choose to contemplate.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Titanic Connections

Image
100 years ago today, my Great-Grandmother, Nellie Steele, must have been grieving the fact that she had missed the most exciting trip of her life.  Her fiance, my Great-Grandfather, Jack McCurrach, had travelled to Canada 1 1/2 years earlier and was awaiting her arrival so they could marry.  But her sister was very ill and expecting a baby, and as it turned out she died about a month after the baby was born.  My Great-Grandmother stayed behind to support her sister and then take care of the baby girl until she could be adopted out.  The original plan was to take the Titanic to Canada.  Families on both sides of the Atlantic remember the story.  The disappointment that she felt in being delayed in her trip and missing the most celebrated sailing of any ship in history must have been devestating.  And the relief felt when she found out about the sinking of the ship must have knocked the wind out of her.  Talk about feeling somehow blessed - she must have been thanking God.  She end
Read more

Flea Beetles! ... and leaf miners.

Image
When I went out to the garden this morning, I found little holes in several tomato plant leaves.  "Argh", I thought.  "Flea Beetles!"  I hadn't heard about flea beetles until last year when our friend, Justin, lost all his tomato plants to the darned little things.  His plants were seedlings at the time, and apparently that is when they are most vulnerable.  He told me that you could trap the beetles with sticky yellow traps - and that was the extent of what I knew.  Flea beetles are about the size of a flea, and have long back legs and jump (just like a flea).  I hate fleas.  And I suspect that I'm going to learn to hate flea beetles, too.  So I went online quickly this morning before going to work.  Yes, flea beetles are fairly common and attack tomatoes, potatoes, and some of the cruciferous plants.  I'll let you know if they get into my leafy veggies - apparently they like them, too.  Sticky traps might help, so might Rotenone powder - which I am
Read more

Recipes from the summer of '35

Image
With the economy going the way it is, I thought looking back at some Depression Era recipes might help people save some money and maybe think about eating in a different way. It may also cause a laugh or two - which we can all use. So here are some examples from The Daily Province in Vancouver, British Columbia, printed 25 July. The weekly menu was suggested here: Just looking at the menu shows us how different things are now. This was meant for a housekeeper (whether a domestic goddess or hired staff). Here is one of the main dish recipes (Monday Supper) that we all might have the ingredients for: Scalloped Tuna Fish and Potatoes. 
Read more