Safetogototown

   I have have been reflecting on gratitude the last couple weeks. In my  last post  I referenced the hedonic treadmill.  I briefly offered gratitude as a way to address the never ending cycle of the hedonic treadmill.  Then an opportunity presented itself, I was asked to teach an adult Sunday school class on gratitude.  The best way to learn something is to teach it?  Or at least fake it until you make it.  As I said I had been pondering it for a while.  When I went back and reviewed some of my posts I realized that gratitude was not often specifically mentioned.  When I search my blog for the word gratitude only a few post show up.  In most cases gratitude is not discussed in depth but is merely used as a synonym for thankful.  However many of my post could have easily diverted to a discussion about gratitude. Is gratitude really just a synonym for thankful?  Why does gratitude seem so elusive?  I could be over...

  Think 2, 3, or 4 times before buying anything. I do have to spend money to live but I do not have to live to spend it. If I buy it how much effort will be needed to maintain it? On rare occasions it is ok to be frivolous and really enjoy it (and I mean REALLY enjoy it). Stealth is more rewarding than outward lavishness. I am much happier with a few really nice things than a lot of so so things. I am happiest when my spending is leads to shared experiences with friends and family.  As I said in my last post this is my intrinsic code for spending money.  I categorized it as intrinsic because I never used it as a formal process for spending.  It is entirely based on my recollections of past purchases and how I emotionally dealt with the purchase.  As I mentioned in my previous post the two main factors that affect my spending is my inherent reluctance to spend money and my parents teaching me wants from needs. As I was pondering this topic over the holidays I rea...