as i gain more confidence in using watercolours, i decided i would get all the brushes and materials i need now that i can still afford them. i should be set for when i retire at the end of the year. sometimes i scold myself for my guilty pleasures when there are a lot of people starving in the world. but the money i spent on my indulgences wouldn't be enough to feed the hungry anyway, plus i do give a lot to charitable institutions, a lot more than anyone i know.
I had an interesting time thinking about this theme and what a guilty pleasure actually is, i mean who says we shouldnt just do what we enjoy?'where does the guilt and shame and judgement come from a lot of the time?
@kali66 - that watercolour set on the right is rather expensive and i debated with myself for a week if i should get it or not. as with anything non-essential, i do ask myself, do i need it? am i worth it? what made me buy it finally was -- i work so that i can be comfortable, so i can buy the things i need and some indulgences on the side; nobody else is going to buy this for me. i support a brother back home, his needs aren't much, when he wants something that is non-essential, i indulge him, why not? it would be different if he's in dire need and i neglect him by seeing to myself first. i suppose the guilt and shame come from us ourselves, which shouldn't be, but we do anyway because we are decent people and we are conscious of those around us.
@summerfield yes, bargaining with the universe and feeling deserving or not are deeply ingrained patterns from childhood and culture, but we act with generosity, empathy and compassion because that is what we want to see more of in the world. enjoy making beautiful art with your purchases.
I always ask myself if I really need something or if I just want it, but I never ask if I am worth it, as I don't think that is a worthy question.
Most of the time, now, I don't really need anything much but sometimes I indulge my wants. Books are my biggest downfall and I have a rule that if I buy a book (rather than borrow it from the library) I have to take something to the Opshop to balance it. @summerfield
@ankers70 - i used to buy and read a lot of books. i keep the ones that i really really like and others when i've finished reading them, i put them in a box and send it to the old country where any books are a luxury. now in my old age, i have started to get rid of most of my books and thankfully i can get new ones on kindle.
Thanks for replying. Likewise, I used to buy a lot of books having always been an avid reader. But downsizing meant reducing the number of books so now I have strict rules. But I love having books around me and, like you, buy those that I particularly like and that I want to refer to or read again. Sometimes, I will borrow a book from the library and then decide that I would really like to buy it.
You referred to the 'old country'. May I ask where that is?
I'm always interested in where people on this site are from and love learning about other places through the photos on the site. I really like some of these discussions around photographic ideas and other ideas generated from the photos. @summerfield
Well done!
@kali66
Most of the time, now, I don't really need anything much but sometimes I indulge my wants. Books are my biggest downfall and I have a rule that if I buy a book (rather than borrow it from the library) I have to take something to the Opshop to balance it. @summerfield
@kali66
You referred to the 'old country'. May I ask where that is?
I'm always interested in where people on this site are from and love learning about other places through the photos on the site. I really like some of these discussions around photographic ideas and other ideas generated from the photos.
@summerfield
@kali66
@kali66