Life's struggles

I was talking to a young couple recently and they were sharing how hard it is for young people to make ends meet. They said, "We work hard and still we don't have all they things you have." I said when I was your age, I didn't have all these things either! In addition "things" don't make you wealthy.

Even now there are many times my expenditures exceed my income. That is when I have to cut back and give up some of the things I enjoy. Eating out is one of them. I pick up the sales ad and shop for cheap food that will make healthy meals. I don't drive my care as often, because gas prices are so high.

My point was that we often think we should be where our parents are when we are starting out. I still remember the twin bed we used as a sofa, just add pillows. The hand me down furniture that we were given. I was an avid garage sale junkie and I still love the thrift shops. I have had times when all there was to eat for the next week was a 10lb bag of potatoes. I expanded my recipe collection!

We all have life struggles, things were not easy for my parents, they were not easy for me and sure they will not be easy for my children, but what we struggle to achieve we appreciate all the more. It also allows us to be grateful for the little things.