March 22, 2011

Gotta-have-it-itis


Moving into a new home is a lovely, memorable time, but one that puts you at risk of being infected with a very insidious disease the moment the shiny new key first turns in the door.

It’s a disease that makes you feel like what you already have is inadequate.
An affliction that makes you covet what others have.
A sickness that leaves you feeling downtrodden and dejected.

What is this dire illness, you might ask? It’s called Gotta-have-it-itis.

I have had a my latest case of Gotta-have-it-itis for three months now. It all began when the movers unloaded the truck in front of our new home, and the images of what I wanted this place of ours to ultimately be started dancing around in my head. Soon thereafter, I noticed myself feeling a little off.

I was eyeing the gorgeous photos on other blogs with a pang of jealousy.
I was thinking constantly of the gorgeous couch/chair/kitchen table I saw in my latest magazine.

And that’s when I knew I had been afflicted.

Gotta-have-it-itis is a disease that robs you of your appreciation for what you have, and it replaces a sense of contentment with a compulsion to acquire new, better things. 

The kitchen table that has seated my family for every meal for so many precious years has now become an eyesore.

The hutch we inherited from Matt’s grandmother is an outdated dinosaur that needs to be repainted, or else discarded.

Our roll-top desk needs to be replaced with a newer, more fashionable version. 

The coffee table Matt and I scrimped and saved to pay for when we married is begging to be chucked in order to be replaced by a new cocktail ottoman.

 Can any of y’all relate?

In the throes of dealing with Gotta-have-it-itis, it is common to become totally paralyzed. Why bother decorating a home with the lowly things you already own, knowing they’ll never measure up to the furniture or the decor you see on your favorite blogs? Why work on making your house a home when you can’t afford to buy the baubles and frills that adorn the pages of your favorite magazine?

It told you this is an insidious illness.

Friends, I am a Gotta-have-it-itis sufferer, and I will be for the rest of my life. It is a struggle, and especially in a world where unattainable images greet us each time we turn on the television or open a magazine. Since I have become a blogger, I have sensed a particular weakness in my ability to resist the green-eyed monster. I am not proud of that fact, but it is certainly true.

When my heart becomes the heaviest with the feelings of envy and inadequacy caused by a relapse of Gotta-have-it-itis, I have found only one remedy to be effective:

I take a look around. And then I evaluate every single little thing I like about where I am in my life right now, right at this very moment. 

I count my blessings. 

It sounds trite, but it really does work.

My hutch is a relic? Well, it is filled with china given to us by beloved friends for our wedding, and with heirloom family pieces that each tell a remarkable story.

Our coffee table is unsightly? Each and every gash and ding was placed there by the precious hands of our precious children, wielding the toys or books Matt and I are fortunate enough to be able to provide for them.

Truly, counted blessings are the only fool-proof antidote to Gotta-have-it-itis. 

I’m counting today, and I’ll be counting for the rest of my life. My life is filled with tremendous blessings, and the joy found in those is something I pray I will always be able to count on.

Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.
Luke 12:15

Thank you so much for being a part of Positively Splendid!

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Amy @ Positively Splendid

Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you'll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.
Amy @ Positively Splendid

@splendidamy

Mama of four, creative enthusiast, craft & DIY blogger. Find me knee-deep in my next project at http://www.PositivelySplendid.com!
Keep sunglasses scratch-free this summer with a stylish scalloped sunglasses case! Free pattern and how-to: http://t.co/jcQ9lP443B - 52 mins ago
Amy @ Positively Splendid

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18 Responses to Gotta-have-it-itis

  1. Brenda March 22, 2011 at 12:23 pm #

    Oh, that is so very true!

    Thank you for the post and the scripture!!

    Reply
  2. ASH March 22, 2011 at 12:48 pm #

    I love this blog post! I just moved into a new home 3 wks ago. It is much bigger than our old home and looks kinda empty. I would love to go out and buy a bunch of stuff but we are on a budget. :) Thanks for putting it in perspective. Now off to the thrift stores to find furniture I can repurpose!

    Reply
  3. Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} March 22, 2011 at 1:44 pm #

    And *this* is why you are such a crafty gal. ;) Maybe this summer is the time to put aside the sewing machine and start giving your furniture a new life. Make it your own, my friend!

    Reply
  4. Bethany Lotterman March 22, 2011 at 2:08 pm #

    I love this article! Thank you for saying what so many others need to hear, myself included. :)

    Reply
  5. Sandy March 22, 2011 at 2:45 pm #

    What an awesome post, thank you so much! My DH and I will be moving into a new home in May and this is so timely. I was thinking how much I would love new furniture, etc. but as it is, we have to buy all new appliances, since there are none in the new house. That will stretch our budget to the max as it is… so I will be thankful for what I have and know that I am blessed to have a roof over my head and furniture to put in it. Thanks again for such a great post :)

    Reply
  6. Wendy March 22, 2011 at 3:10 pm #

    Well said, Amy! Thankfulness is key to having real JOY! God will honor and bless your efforts! I’m new to the whole “blog” world, but one of the things I love about your blog and the others I’ve “stumbled” upon is all the great DIY and economical ideas! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  7. staci @ lizard n ladybug March 22, 2011 at 3:18 pm #

    love this!!
    I was just thinking how I wanted to start the process of getting new things.

    Reply
  8. lilreds_nicole March 22, 2011 at 5:05 pm #

    Thanks Amy, I really needed this today. Thanks so much for your wisdom and being willing to share it with others!

    Reply
  9. The Cottage Mama March 22, 2011 at 5:22 pm #

    Amy, this post was right up my alley. We are possibly moving so I have been all over the decorating blog world (usually I stick to more crafts and sewing). I have a gazillion projects piling up in my head and am thinking about totally redoing my colors for my next house……but will I be able to afford to do everything….ummmmm……that would be a big “NO”. It’s very easy to want to start over, but you’re right, the things we own have a history and should be cherished and appreciated. I’ve really been trying not to buy anything for our home that I do not absolutely love or need – that way, hopefully I will end up with timeless pieces that will last me through many homes. Thanks for the post…….I totally feel your pain!!

    Linds

    Reply
  10. Kate W. March 22, 2011 at 5:33 pm #

    What an amazing post, Aims. You put into words what I sometimes feel. I would love to have a new house, new car, new everything but it’s just not in the cards. At the moment, I find myself VERY lucky to have an amazing 6 month old daughter, for Kevin and I to have jobs (after both being laid off), food on the table, clothes on our back, and a roof over our head. We are on a very tight budget (now due to daycare) but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re such a wonderful person, inside and out!

    Reply
  11. Jan at The Diamond E March 22, 2011 at 7:20 pm #

    Amy,
    You couldn’t be more right! I know what you mean about feeling “off” when your focus shifts too much in the wrong direction! Good reminder & Great post!

    Reply
  12. Amanda @ Serenity Now March 22, 2011 at 7:54 pm #

    My name is Amanda, and I also suffer from “Gotta-have-it-itis.” ;) I am constantly comparing my home/stuff/body/you name it to those of my friends. It’s just not a healthy thing to do. Thank you so much for the positive reminder to be grateful for all of God’s blessings!

    Reply
  13. The Trappett collective March 23, 2011 at 2:23 am #

    Yeah, we are moving in one month and more than doubling our square footage!! Yeah!!!!! But I always laugh when I think of how empty our new place will be. Also we have the college make it due furniture and now have the big grown up job and a big bonus coming. Thanks for this post I needed to know others are looking at their new places and know it doesn’t have to be now now now.

    but to think I will have lots of boxes for great forts and lots of space to let the kids play with them ha ha ha!!!

    Reply
  14. Kiwi The Kreator March 23, 2011 at 4:13 am #

    Hi my name is Keandra and I have also been afflicted with this heinous disease! Thanx for bringing me back down to earth!!!!

    Reply
  15. chaos and love March 23, 2011 at 12:58 pm #

    hear! hear! The more I stumble through blogs the more UNsettled my home feels. Thanks for the great post!

    Reply
  16. Tania March 23, 2011 at 2:47 pm #

    fantastic post!!! let’s all count our blessings every single day.

    Reply
  17. Amanda @ Serenity Now March 25, 2011 at 12:24 pm #

    Hi, again, Amy! I just wanted to let you know I featured this post today in my “Weekend Bloggy Reading” round-up. Great writing! :)

    Reply
  18. The Modern-Retro Housewife March 31, 2011 at 7:50 pm #

    Love this post…so so true! Ever since we moved into our first house two years ago I’ve been afflicted by the same disease…thanks for the reality check!

    look me up at http://www.homegrowncharm.blogspot.com

    Reply

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