Frugality vs. creativity.


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When I was in 6th or 7th grade we were asked to make a sacrament booklet. We were supposed to explain and illustrate the seven sacraments. I worked hard on it but it looked stange because I filled every line to the edge of the paper and hypenated the words in awkward places. I don't know why I felt I had to cram the words together so tightly.

 Looking back I think I was trying to save paper. I do tend to be frugal with using up scraps and not wasting paper or other things. My mother was overly thrifty so I'm sure I learned it from her.  I think it hampered my creativity and ability to try new ways of doing things. My style was cramped as my life was cramped in many ways. I was expected to do things one way, my mother's way. I was not encouraged to explore and dream and fantasize.

As an adult I'm still hampered by my background. I have tried new things, but I still hate to waste anything. When I embroider, I use the thread to the shortest possible length. I use paper in my printer that is printed on one side. I write notes on scraps of paper or used envelopes.

However,  I do like to learn new things and fantasize stories sometimes. I have become more inventive on the computer and learned to be a little creative. I even compose a little poetry now and then. I may never be a free spirit, but I am developing wings.

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