A Great Gift

Waste not, want not

If you do not waste anything, you will always have enough. This proverbial saying was first recorded in 1772 but had an earlier, even more alliterative version, willful waste makes woeful want (1576).

I never throw anything out. I am lucky to have the space to indulge in this habit. I am not a hoarder, I'm resourceful and wise. The Great Recession caused me to dig out clothes and shoes in my attic closet dating back to the 80's. It turned out that the clothes and shoes still fit and they were actually in pretty good shape. All I had to do was cut out the shoulder pads on my shirts and sew on a few patches and buttons. Occasionally my pack rat tendency is something that haunts me. For example my paper piles in my studio are very dusty. It's too emotional to sort through them so I will just put them in big plastic bins and boxes so I can vacuum around them. The flip side of my saving habit is enjoying my ingenuity and resourcefulness. Now I understand why women made patchwork quilts. When a favorite shirt is finally worn it is lovely to use the fabric again. It keeps the memory alive. I also employ this philosophy in the kitchen and transform leftovers into new dishes. My leftover German potato salad that I had pressure cooked with beets became borscht when I pureed it with whey leftover from home made yogurt. My Grandparents must be smiling from their heavenly perch. They lived through the Great Depression and they knew about saving, sharing and recycling. Even if the economy recovers I don't think I can ever return to being a blind and impulsive consumer and that is a great gift.