Hiya Pogue,

I broke one of my life rules the other day🥹!

You see, over the years I have established a number of rules that I apply to my day-to-day living. Their aim is to make living easier, safer and more responsible. Some are just basic things like trying to give kindness a priority, or living with manners and affording other people respect. Others are practical and it was a practical one that I broke.

The rule is, when making a purchase, check the cost of the thing before going any further. Don’t try it on, asked for it to be explained or even start to imagine it in my life until I’m sure it’s at a price I’m prepared to pay. By doing so I can save myself time and disappointment if it is something I am unwilling to pay for but really like.

I was shopping in Kyoto, which is a pretty cool experience with so many options that I will not find at home. I was browsing in a clothes store when I came across a jacket the was made for me. There it was, hanging in a display, looking directly at me calling, “Buy me, you would look so good wearing me, I would make you look slimmer and suave. I was made for you”.

And I listened! I shouldn’t have listened!

The attendant seeing my interest, was keen to wait on me and enthused about the item. He was my new friend. And I did look rather good in the jacket. So far, good experience. Then I ask the price, expecting it to expensive. I was not prepared for what followed. Basically I could buy the jacket or, alternatively, a small island!

So here I am now writing, no jacket but thinking it was made for me, feeling a mild sense of emptiness. And all this could have been avoided, and time saved, if I’d have applied my life rule. My bad🥴

I am guessing we all have life rules, although we may be unaware of their existence. We could all do with a few more to assist us in living the life we think we’d like to live. And we could all live more mindfully. I know how I wish to live but if you’re anything like me you’ll know how easy it is to become hijacked. Distracted. Lured away. Then often afterwards I will regret not sticking to the path. How many hours have I wasted in distractions? As I said, there’s much to be said for living mindfully. This will inevitably cause us to move through life at a reduced pace, listening to what l believe the Bible refers to as the “still, small inner voice”. No headlong rushes into situation but a little more calmness in our daily journey.

What’s your life rules? And more important, do you adhere to them?

Me, no jacket, but at least I have small island to compensate 😎

Yours, no jacket required,

Wic