There is always someone who needs something more than you. Isn't that what we are put on this earth to do... give more than we receive? To serve and give of ourselves, to offer what talents we have to help other around us. No, not many of us are in a position financially to give monetarily but there are so many other ways to help another person. Unfortunately society sets the standard that to give and be charitable is to GIVE money.
As I child we never have the latest toy or game, we didn't have cable tv (the horror!) I couldn't have my own phone line and I didn't get my own tv in my bedroom until I was sixteen (and I had to buy it myself). In fact, I still have that tv, its new home has been in Dave's and my bedroom for the last 11 years. My brother and I never had a need that wasn't met, we did have wants that were met and many that were not met, for good reason and I thank my parents daily for not indulging my every want. We live in a society fill, no overflowing with wants. My kids even have a hard time understand the difference between a need and a want because they have seen so many of their friends with their every little want met. How is that teaching a whole generation of children how to be diligent in being frugal.
People are so quick to say that their stuff is too old, out of date, not cool any more, or look at what he/she has, if they have one why can't I, I deserve one too. I work just as hard as them, I never get myself anything, my car isn't new enough, my house isn't big enough, my clothes aren't the correct brands for this season, my kids have to dress like all the other kids. I won't be cool if I don't get the lastest gadget.
In a week we will be having our annual neighborhood yard sale and as always I purge as much as I can out of the house. Cleaning out unused items and cleaning out my mind and body at the same time. A few years back as we were packing up the leftovers from a yard sale to stuff back into the attic and garage; I had a light bulb moment.
Why was I packing it back up and putting it back in my home? If I was willing to sale these items standing in my front yard to complete strangers, those items had no sentimental meaning to me anymore. So WHY was I not letting them go after they were the rejects of complete strangers? From then on I made a rule for myself that if it went into the yard sale in didn't come back into the house. I would donate the items to local charities or give the items to friends or family that could get good use out of it.
"Life is too short to hoard everything you have. If there is someone in need in your community then please help them. You never know when that someone could be you."
After you start stocking up on items you or your family will use, when you can get them at a great price, you will understand the importance of stockpiling. Anytime there has been a need for food, toiletries, medicine or toys I just go shopping in my garage. I still do have a few panic attacks over my stockpile because we do have more than we need but I try an reassure myself that yes we do have this stockpile BUT we haven't had to borrow money to buy groceries since November 2007.
So, do we really need all that stuff. No we don't if all we do is hoard our good fortune, whatever that fortune is. Be open to have a charitable heart and give your last bottle of spaghetti sauce to someone who might not be able to feed their kids that night or give a few blankets away that have been stuffed in the hall closest for the last few years, to a family in need; because you never know when you will be the one who needs that help.
Awesome words, my friend!! :)
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