The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

Cut Back On The Costly

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“So, concerning the things we pursue, and for which we vigorously exert ourselves, we owe this consideration either there is nothing useful in them, or most aren’t useful. Some of them are superfluous, while others aren’t worth that much. But we don’t discern this and see them as free, when they cost us dearly.” (Seneca, Moral Letters, 42.6)

Those who accumulate do not count the cost. Not the material cost but the personal cost. Some people have the talent to get things free of charge and a cost still remains. Whatever you store in your closet, shed, attic or heart, ask yourself: 
  • Do I really need this?
  • What is this actually worth? 
  • What is it costing me to keep? 
If you let go for peace of mind, then you do what is right. 

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