...of Living Life to the Fullest

CTC Readers' Poll:
Life is too Short... 

 In the May 15, 2006 issue of the newsletter, Editor Nancy Twigg asked 
Counting the Cost readers this question:

Recently I heard someone say, 'Life is too short to drink cheap wine or have gray hair.' Please give us your philosophy on life by completing this sentence: 'Life is too short to…'

Responses:

"Life is too short to wear clothes that don't make me feel beautiful...and they don't have to cost a lot of money. I buy clothes that make me feel nice at consignment shops, Target and Costco. Life is also too short to wear clothes that are not completely comfortable!" ~ Rebecca

“Life is too short to drink cheap wine or have gray hair!”

My opinion is cheap wine should only be used for cooking or to sip while cooking with your spouse.  If you are going to indulge, then at least have the knowledge to go along with the enjoyment, and purchase something special.  If you don't have the knowledge, ask the store clerk. By the way, cooking a late snack or appetizer with your husband after the kids go to bed is very romantic and stress-relieving, a great date in the kitchen, and he'll see you in a whole new light.

Gray hair should only be for those that want to look older, but at least should whiten it to obtain the 'grace and wise' look.  I have an issue with the thought process some women have of, 'I can't wait to turn 40 and gain 20 lbs.'  They should ask their husbands for an honest opinion. I find that most men would like their wives to 'spruce up a bit', hair, nails, tone up a little but are afraid to tell them. Sometimes just taking a few inches off their face and waist and a hair color will make a women look 20 years younger and liven up their marriage. 

My suggestions:  Talk and LISTEN to your spouse. Tell him that you are not trying to put him on the spot and that you would like some help not looking frumpy.  I asked my husband over a few weeks what looks and style he preferred by occasionally showing him magazine pictures to choose from. Go to a department store and have them put make up on your face - for FREE, then a different day go to another, try different looks and then choose which are best.  Next make a list of personal products (wish list) you would like and leave it on the fridge for family and friends to buy you for holidays and gifts. Find out what colors look best on you and then over time purchase and barter for flattering clothes, thrift stores, friends closets etc.

Just because a woman may live a certain income doesn't mean she's not a lady with class.  If you dress like one it will change your opinion of yourself, your husband's opinion of you and people will treat you with more respect.  Taste and class are not expensive; they are planned according to." ~ Tina


"Life is too short to waste time rubbing chemicals on my scalp and hair every four to six weeks so someone might momentarily think I am a few years younger than I really am.  The time I save on coloring my hair goes to my family or to my craft projects and the money I save goes to buying really good wine."  ~ Alene


"Life is to short to be a wallflower....dance!" ~ Norma


"Life is too short to harbor unforgiveness. Unforgiveness hampers God's ability to fully utilize you for his purposes. Many opportunities for service present themselves only once, and if you're bound by bitterness, you may miss your one shot at reaching someone for Christ." ~ Suzanne


"Life is too short to spend all your time keeping a perfectly clean house. Spend more time with your family and friends and enjoy love and laughter. At your funeral, people will be talking about how great a friend you were, and how much fun they had with you. No one will be saying anything about the perfectly clean house you kept." ~ Anonymous 

 
"Life is too short to spend all your money on Boyd's Bears and other collections that are in no way practical." ~ Karen


"I was recently on a reality show where I switched places with a lady very different from myself.  She had to shop all the time because she would only wear her clothes one time and then she got rid of them. She also had to work all the time to be able to pay for that type of lifestyle.  She also had to tan, do her nails and hair to match the fancy clothes she wore. All of that kept her from her family which is really sad. Life is too short to spend it on things that are so temporary instead of what is going to last for forever." ~ Kathy

"Life is too short to worry about that which you can't change -- like old age for example. I've been caregiver of my mom since August and can see that old age is going to get me no matter what I do. I see that ALL elderly people who have worked sooooooo hard over their lifetime vs. people who do nothing for most of their life  end up with basically the same thing in the end...a roughbox 6 feet underground. It breaks my heart to see people have to give away or sell stuff that they have worked hard to get because they need to move into an assisted care facility and there is not enough room for their stuff. So I believe we should live life like there is no tomorrow." ~ Weezie

"Life is too short...For years, I went to a hair stylist and tinted my hair.  I had no idea what my natural color really was!  Then my stylist moved to a larger city, and I decided that it was too much time and money wasted to keep it all upl  I really resented the time lost while sitting in the salon, anyway. I like my hair in its natural color, and now the only time I spend in a salon is to get a haircut (not styling!) every 4-6 weeks. I'm so much richer in  both time and money that I'm a little chagrinned for not thinking of it sooner!" ~ Hazel


"Life is too short to save junk! If you 'might use it someday,' give it away. You'll just have to shuffle it periodically to make room for more junk, and that will cost you time with your family. I have an ongoing box for the Salvation Army that collects such items as they become junk." ~ Alexandra

"I too decided to go natural ,  I believe life is too short to spend  money and time each month covering it over. You have heard of high maintenance women. Well I am not one of those and I am also not low- maintenance. I am a NO maintenance woman." ~ Ruth

 

"Life is too short to not snuggle with the one you love.  Loving someone is great preventative medicine. And you feel good, too. Learn to forgive. You'll feel better. My dear husband says it actually stops arthritis from starting, and the person you're forgiving usually has no idea that you can't stand them anyway so it's wasted.  Why should you suffer because of what you let someone do to you?" ~ Leonie


"I enjoy burning scented candles and wearing perfume. I had the tendency to save these things for special occasions. I realized everyday is a special occasion. Now I burn my favorite candles and wear my favorite perfume everyday.  When they are gone, it gives me great pleasure to shop for more. Life is too short." ~ Tonya



"Life is to short to wear make-up!  I wonder who started this idea?  Why is it in a modern society like ours that women feel they must spend hundreds of dollars and loads of time on applying a 'false' face in order to walk out their front doors?  Are we doing our daughters a favor by passing on this tradition to them?  Most women are beautiful enough as they are to not have to apply so much. I know there are some that enjoy doing this, and a few that may cover scars or burns, but others feel trapped.  I have spoken to many of them.
 
I am not the most beautiful woman in the world, but I am not offensive by any stretch of the imagination. I save make up for truly special occasions. I feel free by not having to waste our hard earned money on yet another lipstick or foundation that will sit at the bottom of a drawer.
 
I think it is time we teach our daughters that they are lovely like they are - and really believe it!" ~ BJ

"To not hug your family members (parents/grandparents/sisters/brothers/children/
grandchildren, etc). You may not get another chance." ~ Chris


 
"Life's too short to be cold or hot....I keep my thermostat at a temperature that I am comfortable. If the house will be too hot with windows open, I prefer to turn on the air and not be sweaty!  If it turns cold early, I'll put the heat on.... even if just temporarily to take the chill off.
 
I do agree with life's too short to be gray....I color my hair....I am only 53 and mother to a 8-year-old and 6-year-old  (yes you read right....we adopted two babies from Russia). Anyway, I feel better about myself when I color my hair and I don't like to be mistaken as the kids' grandma!
 
Also....here's one I firmly believe in....Life's too short to do what you really don't want to do!" ~ Anonymous

"Life is too short to hold grudges. There are plenty of heavy things in life; I don't want to add to them the weight of a heart heavy with unforgiveness. I have found that forgiveness (and overlooking many small offenses) frees me to have peace, and peace enables me to have joy in the midst of trying circumstances." ~ Margie in KS


"Life is too short to try to keep up with the Joneses. Lots of money and possessions are not the key to true happiness." ~ Linda


"Life is too short. Forgive. We need only look at what our Savior did for us!" ~ Pam


"Life is too short to worry. As my dear husband says, 'It will be there tomorrow.' Sit down, relax, enjoy your children and/or your husband, significant other, pet, whatever. Everything doesn't have to be done today." ~ Brenda


"I started having a white streak in the front of my dark hair in my mid 30's.  My sister is a hairdresser, but lives a distance away.  So, twice she colored my streak for me, and gave me pointers on how to do it. Then, I paid her for the professional supplies, and now I take care of it myself.  It's a lot less expensive than having it done for me, and because
they're not over-the-counter, my dye job lasts a lot longer. I am very fair skinned, and so the gray really makes me look washed out.  I'm glad I made this change." ~ Carolyn in Pa



"Life is too short to worry about what others think. Do what you know is right. Treat others like you'd want to be treated and love one another.  Then you don't have to worry about living up to others' expectations." ~
Nancy


"Life is too short to go to sleep while being angry, specially with those you love more." ~ Mayol-Roca
 

"Even before I started seeing gray, I had already made my mind up that no coloring for me. My older sister said you'll change my mind. Nope, I didn't. I'm getting old and embrace it." ~ Kim

 

"Life is too short to be superficial. When we love ourselves, we have no need to hide our age, color our hair, or pretend to be something we are not. Mom always said, 'Keep you back straight and your head high with a smile for everyone you meet and people won't notice whether your hair is gray, your clothes are the latest fashion. They will notice you are a happy person and want to be with you or near you.' What else could you ask for from life than to be loved by all who know you?" ~ Annemarie


"Life is too short to waste time with people who don't like you or that you don't like. Move on, there are lots of people in this world, you can't like everyone or vice versa." ~ Louisa

"The first thing that comes to mind is, 'Most people are about as happy as they want to be.' I guess that goes back to the contentment arena, and I think Abraham Lincoln may have coined this phrase, but I believe it.... whenever I get frustrated my life, I realize that only I can change it. I am the captain of my ship." ~ Tammy

"Life is too short to work all the time in hopes of having enough money for play." ~ LuAnn

 

Editor's Note: Thanks to all these readers who took time to write!

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