Want or Need... A post of thankfull-ness...

Maybe it's the realization that the parents are about to embark on a new journey (moving out the state here people, it's not the final journey...just need to be clear). Maybe it's that yet another life metamorphosis is taking shape in my mind, or possibly, it's the month of thinking of all the things a person is thankful for. Whatever it is, all that's been on the brain lately, is the challenging difference between two words: WANT versus NEED.

Living in the same apartment for the past 10 years, the reality hits when you realize all those trinkets, shoes, tables, and mugs are just "stuff." They seemed so needed at the time, but now--as I travel the road of "essential" buying--they have become hindrances. Blockades in the home, if you please the metaphor.

The interesting thing is when you realize as an individual, you have never distinguished a difference between the two words. "Want" has the tendency to evoke the definition of "Need" in our society. So, this month the cleansing process began. I have discarded four boxes of "things", donated a table, three chairs, and three shelving units to my neighboring artist, books have reached the sharing frames of my local coffee shop, and I'm throwing away all those bits of paper that I felt had such significant value though in reality just cluttered up space in the home.

As the "stuff" begins to clear, I'm faced with a more open space. Space to recognize the things that have true value in my life. So as it is the month of giving thanks, I will end with this:

I am thankful for my family, who is always so supportive and encourages me to do all the things I'm passionate about in life. I am thankful for my friends; all the laughter we have shared, the way you all let me be me (with all the quirks, nuances, and frustrations that along with it). I am thankful for my cats and how they love to snuggle and share time with me even though we don't speak the same language. I am thankful to all the stories ever told to me, all the moments that have ever shaped the life I live. I am thankful to me teachers who have encouraged me. I am thankful to the teachers that discouraged me and in the process taught me to fight for what I believe in. Finally, I am thankful, thankful, thankful for having all that I need and being able to dream and hope for all the wants of my future.

A Happy Thanksgiving week to everyone out there. I hope your home is full of the space to share with the one's you love.