I didn’t know she is an artist.

It’s not surprising that she is, but she lives right behind me and I was clueless. She sent me a message via Instagram, and like any good neighbor, I stalked her page. Walking over for a visit, we sat down and talked about her art. She laid out her portfolio, and as I looked through it, I was in awe of every, single piece of paper.

She offered to give me one, and this one really spoke to me. I tell myself no too easily, and don’t say yes nearly enough.

I brought this one home and sat it above my desk.

Over the weekend, I worked on my bedroom. It needed some attention to resume haven status. I noticed how the room has a gold and silver theme flowing through it. Noticing this reminded me of a small trashcan I saw a year ago, and really wished I’d bought it after looking at my room. It would be perfect!

God reminded me that I saw that same trashcan at a store just a few weeks ago. I hopped in my truck, and drove to the store to see if it was still sitting on the shelf. The shelf was empty. 😦

I kicked myself all the way back home.

There was no real reason not to say, ‘Yes’, the day I saw it. Even a year ago, the first time I laid eyes on it, there was no reason not to bring it home. I really struggle with buying simple pleasures for myself. For other people, I’d buy the moon.

That night, I looked at the website of the store with the trashcan. It was available online and could be here with a few clicks of a button. This time there was no hesitation saying yes.

Walking by my bedroom, I glance at it sitting there shimmering in the light, and smile. I know it’s just a trashcan, which won’t be used often in the bedroom. It’s a rather frivolous purchase, and that’s where I hesitate in saying yes. The silly things are what I enjoy the most, and are usually the most fun.

Someone recently asked, “What do you do for fun?”

I had to think about that a minute. I’ve been in work mode for over a year, and couldn’t think of anything recently that was just for fun. I responded with, “Nothing. I work.” Work can be fun sometimes, right? That was not the answer he was anticipating, and I don’t want to use that answer again.

There is fun in this life my darlings, if we just say yes.