For the month of November, take time to be grateful before you get caught up with the pressures of preparing for Christmas. Make the most of NOVEMBER to reflect on the year and have an “Attitude of Gratitude”.

Two books I highly recommend for this season: Essentialism:The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown and The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Adam Grubb and Annie Raser-Rowland. Both emphasize the reminder of getting too overwhelmed in this fast paced culture to instead slow down and reawaken our senses to the world around us. 

Plus, the amount of advertising we receive every day leaves us with the craving for more leading to overstuffed houses, closets and pantries that go to landfills. Reading these books has made me have to confront how much of a consumerism mindset I have had. I am trying to break these consumerism patterns to be content, and aim to be more generous.

Another great point is that the less money you spend also saves you time and provides FREEDOM to pursue new hobbies or goals you want to accomplish. Taking time to prioritize what is MOST important to you and remove the unnecessary to benefit your overall physical, mental and spiritual well being. 

I started creating a NEEDS vs WANTS list and this has helped me take a backseat on impulsive purchases and instead put them on my wishlist. The amazing part is that item you thought you couldn’t live without, you end up forgetting just a few days later. 

So with this hopefully short and sweet post, I hope this encourages you to take time to recenter and reflect on what you have. Choose to be more generous this season. 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21