You Can Be Anything You Want—Just Don’t Be Ungrateful

Be Grateful, Life is Good!

Finding Peace in Times of Economic Uncertainty

Recently, I came across a quote that stayed with me:

“You can be anything you want in this world, just don’t be ungrateful.”

I liked it so much that I decided to write it down and put it on my fridge.

Perhaps because lately I have been thinking a lot about gratitude—and about how easy it is to lose sight of what we have when we are constantly surrounded by everything that is wrong with the world.

There is no denying that life has become more expensive. Groceries cost more, everyday expenses keep rising, and there is plenty of uncertainty around us. We hear about tariffs, politics, economic problems and things going wrong almost everywhere we look.

And yes, I notice it too.

I am not living in a bubble, and I certainly don’t have all the answers.

But I have been asking myself a different question lately:

What can I actually do about the things I cannot control?

The answer is surprisingly simple: not very much.

I can complain about the price of groceries, but that won’t make them cheaper.

I can spend hours listening to negative news, but that won’t solve the world’s problems.

I can become frustrated about things happening far beyond my control, but I don’t think that will improve my wellbeing—or anyone else’s.

What I can do is look at my own life and make thoughtful choices.

A little reset

Since retiring, I have been looking at my lifestyle differently.

I’ve reset my budget. I’ve cut back on things that aren’t really necessary. I’ve become much more conscious about what I buy and, perhaps more importantly, what I don’t buy.

I’ve been cooking more from scratch and paying closer attention to food waste.

I’ve been brutally decluttering my home and letting go of things that have been taking up space simply because I had difficulty letting them go.

I am slowly learning to live by a simple little philosophy:

Keep what is beautiful and useful.

My cozy morning coffee corner

I don’t need a house full of things to make my home feel beautiful.

I don’t need to buy something every time I go shopping.

And I don’t need to spend money to have an enjoyable day.

There are wonderful free events around me, and I can walk to many of them. Walking has become part of my everyday life—not only because it saves money, but because I genuinely enjoy it.

Sometimes the simplest pleasures turn out to be the best ones.

A walk.

A homemade meal.

A cup of coffee at home.

A tidy room.

Something I’ve created with my own hands.

A conversation with a friend.

A beautiful afternoon.

None of these things need to cost much.

Gratitude doesn’t mean everything is perfect

I also want to be clear about something.

Being grateful doesn’t mean pretending that everything is wonderful.

I can be grateful and still be frustrated.

I can appreciate what I have and still wish some things were different.

I can acknowledge that life is challenging for many people while also reminding myself that constantly focusing on what is wrong can become exhausting.

There is a difference between recognizing a problem and living in a constant state of complaint about it.

And I think that distinction is important for our wellbeing.

We all have different circumstances. Some people have financial difficulties, some have health challenges, some are caring for family members, and some are simply going through a difficult chapter of life.

I would never presume to know what another person is carrying.

But whenever we have some room to make choices, perhaps it is worth asking ourselves:

What is within my control?

Maybe it is our spending.

Maybe it is our habits.

Maybe it is how much we consume.

Maybe it is how much news we allow into our day.

Maybe it is whether we use what we already have instead of buying something new.

Maybe it is simply where we choose to put our attention.

There is freedom in needing less

One thing I have discovered is that spending less doesn’t necessarily make life feel smaller.

Sometimes it makes life feel bigger.

When I stop thinking about what I should buy next, I have more time to appreciate what I already own.

When I declutter, I have more space.

When I cook from scratch, I appreciate food differently.

When I walk instead of automatically getting into a car, I notice my surroundings.

When I look for free things to do, I discover that enjoyment doesn’t always come with a price tag.

And when I stop comparing my life with what I see other people doing, I feel much more content with my own.

I am fortunate that my home is mortgage-free, and I don’t take that for granted. It gives me breathing room that I know not everyone has.

I also know people who officially retired but have chosen to continue working a couple of days a week. For some, it provides a little extra spending money; for others, it gives them structure, purpose and social interaction.

I think that is wonderful too.

There isn’t one right way to live.

The important thing is to be honest about our circumstances and make choices that work for our own lives.

Looking at what we still have

Perhaps this is what that little quote on my fridge is reminding me of.

A reminder to Be Grateful!

You can want more without being ungrateful for what you already have.

You can work toward something better without dismissing the good things that are already part of your life.

You can acknowledge that the world is difficult without allowing that difficulty to consume every thought.

And you can take responsibility for the little corner of the world that belongs to you.

I cannot change the economy.

I cannot control the price of groceries.

I cannot solve political problems.

I cannot fix everything that is happening in the world.

But I can decide how I spend my money.

I can decide what comes into my home.

I can decide what stays.

I can decide what I cook.

I can decide how much I consume.

I can decide how much negativity I allow into my day.

And I can choose to notice the beautiful things that are still here.

Maybe that is what slow living means to me at this stage of my life.

Not having a perfect life.

Not having everything figured out.

But slowing down enough to notice what I already have.

Keeping what is beautiful and useful.

Using what I have.

Wasting less.

Wanting less.

Walking more.

Creating more.

And being grateful.

Because there will probably always be something to complain about.

There will always be another problem in the news, another price increase, another thing that isn’t working the way we think it should.

But there will also be a morning cup of coffee.

A meal we made ourselves.

A walk in the sunshine.

A friend who makes us laugh.

A home to come back to.

Something beautiful sitting on a shelf.

And another day to live.

Perhaps we don’t have to choose between being realistic and being grateful.

We can be both.

And for me, that little note on my fridge is a gentle reminder:

Be ambitious.
Be responsible.
Make changes when you can.
But don’t forget to be grateful for the life you already have.

This blog may contain a few carefully placed ads between paragraphs to support my work. Thank you for reading and supporting this space!

Slowly Transitioning My Home from Summer to Fall | Fall Decor Part 1

Budget friendly DIY framed art, paper gift bag

Budget friendly DIY framed art, paper gift bag

Some people don’t enjoy decorating for every season, but I do. I love a change of scenery, and now that I’m retired and spending more time at home, I especially enjoy having a pretty and inviting space where I can cozy up with a cup of tea, a good book, or simply enjoy my surroundings.

This is Part 1 of my fall decorating, because I’m not quite ready to fully decorate for autumn yet. I signed up for an art class in September and also attend Aquafit twice a week, so my schedule is looking a little busier than usual. Instead of trying to do everything at once, I’m taking my time and doing my DIY projects and decorating here and there.

I’ll share Part 2 once the rest of my fall decorating is finished, hopefully around the middle of September.

Slowly Transitioning from Summer to Fall

I’m slowly resetting my home for the new season—sorting things out, decluttering, and bringing my fall decorations out of my storage cage.

I have quite a collection of seasonal decor, so this year I’m also trying to thin things out. I’ve already listed a few pieces on Marketplace and have sold three small baskets for $5.00.

I’m not planning to buy a lot of new decorations. Instead, I’m shopping my own home, using what I already have, and giving some of my older pieces a makeover.

I personally love neutral fall decor, but most of my fall decorations are more traditional, so I’m going to embrace what I already have rather than trying to change everything.

And, of course, I couldn’t resist a few DIY projects along the way!

A Little Colour for the Hallway

Most of the artwork and wall decor in my hallway is brown, so I wanted to introduce a little bit of colour.

I had seen a beautiful floral painting on Marketplace that I really liked, but it was too large for the space—and at $50, it was more than I wanted to spend.

Instead, I decided to create my own version using an old frame I already had.

I removed the original print because it didn’t suit my home anymore, then mixed brown and black acrylic paint with baking soda and applied two coats to the frame.

For the collage, I used papers from my stash, glued them onto cardstock from Dollarama, and added touches of acrylic paint here and there. I then lightly scraped some of the paint to give the collage a slightly distressed, aged look.

I’m really pleased with how it turned out!

The entire project cost me only $2.00, using a small amount of money I had made from selling those little baskets for $5.00. I also used Elmer’s glue and cardstock that I already had.

Sometimes a little creativity is all you need to create something completely new from something old.

Abstract collage composition for the entryway

Abstract collage with vibrant colours in the entryway 

A Floral Touch for the Living Room

There was another wall in my living room, beside the credenza, that was looking a little bare.

Because I have a large fall oil painting nearby, I wanted to add something floral to complement it.

I went through my stash of saved prints from old books. I often find beautiful old books at thrift shops for under a dollar, and sometimes I even get them for free, so I like to save the pages and images for future projects.

Then I stopped at Dollarama and found a beautiful floral gift bag for only $1.50.

The flowers have gold detailing, which happens to coordinate beautifully with the gold light globes on my credenza.

I framed the floral design in another old frame by simply replacing the Christmas print that was inside.

Another inexpensive little transformation—and I’m very happy with how it looks.

Dollarama gift bag $1.50 for DIY Wall Art

Shopping for a Gift Bag at Dollarama

DIY framed art, paper gift bag

Framing Budget friendly paper gift bag

  

Styling the Console Table, Fall decor

A Small Fall Artworks

Since I’ve been creating surreal collages, I’m always keeping an eye out for interesting frames on Marketplace. I’ve been lucky enough to find several for free.

Two of them have quotes on them, and rather than getting rid of them, I decided to keep them for myself.

Because this particular frame is quite small, I didn’t have a suitable piece of paper in my collage stash. But while going through my supplies, I found some old greeting cards with a lovely fall theme.

They turned out to be perfect for the little frame.

I love how it came together, and I think it will look lovely on my kitchen counter.

Framing  old greeting cards

Rustic wooden picture frames with autumn landscape prints.

Giving My Roses a Fall Makeover

I also had some artificial roses that were simply too orange for the look I wanted.

Instead of replacing them, I decided to give them a little makeover.

I diluted some dark acrylic paint with water and dipped each rose into the wash, then left them to dry.

The result is a much more muted, rustic look that I really like.

I arranged the roses in a black vase together with dried stems that I collected during my walks in the park. I dried the stems in my pantry, and they are perfect for adding a little natural texture to my fall decor.

Roses ready for a makeover

Rustic roses drying

Styled vase with Fall florals

Drying wild flowers

A Few More Little Makeovers

I had also fallen out of love with some of the vessels and table lamps in my bedroom, so instead of getting rid of them, I decided to give them makeovers.

I painted them with acrylic paint mixed with baking soda to create a slightly textured finish. Once the paint dried, I applied a couple of coats of diluted acrylic wash paint.

I also painted two thrifted pumpkins that were a little too bright and shiny for my taste. The stems I painted with permanent black marker.

It’s amazing how different something can look with just a little paint.

After painted pottery makeover

Before, painting pottery makeover

Modern textured black painted lamp DIY.

Modern textured black lamp in progress.

After, painted pottery makeover

Work in progress. pottery makeover

Hand painting ceramic pumpkins fall decor

Painting ceramic pumpkin autumn craft.

My Biggest DIY: The Coffee Table

My biggest DIY project was one that had been on my to-do list for quite some time: my coffee table.

I decided to tackle it now while the weather is still nice rather than leaving it until winter.

This is a thrifted coffee table that I painted a few years ago. I’ve always liked it—the size and shape are perfect for my L-shaped green sofa—but for a while I’ve been wanting to bring some of the natural wood back to the top.

I had some leftover Strippa product in my stash, so I decided that now was the perfect time to give my lovely coffee table another makeover.

After removing the old finish, I was very happy to see the natural wood again.

I really like the simplicity of the natural look, and I think it works beautifully with my green sofa.

Step by step paint stripping process.

Step by step paint stripping process.

Coffee table makeover styled with Fall decor

Coffee table before

How to Make Fabric Acorns Using Plastic Easter Eggs ⬇️⬇️

https://verasslowlivingdiaries.blogspot.com/2025/08/how-to-make-fabric-acorns-using-plastic.html?m=1

You Don’t Have to Spend a Lot to Decorate

This little fall decorating project reminded me once again that you don’t need to break the bank to spruce up your home.

Before heading to the shops—or even the thrift shops, which have become considerably more expensive these days—take a look around your own home.

You might already have everything you need.

An old frame can become something completely different. A gift bag can become artwork. A dated vase can get a new life with some paint. Flowers can be transformed with a little colour, and something you have been tired of looking at can suddenly feel fresh again.

For me, that’s one of the most enjoyable parts of decorating: creating something new without necessarily buying something new.

And I’m certainly not finished yet.

I’ll continue slowly transitioning my home from summer to fall over the next few weeks, working on a few more DIY projects and bringing out more of my autumn decorations.

So this is just Part 1. I’ll share Part 2 once everything is finished, hopefully in mid-September.

If you are getting ready for autumn, check out my favorite cozy fall decorating ideas to warm up your space 

Watch my older YouTube video here:👇👇

https://youtu.be/O3ABU5UpQ2Y?si=FU1nS1-VawZzdOMO

Do you decorate your home seasonally?

Do you enjoy changing your decor with the seasons, or do you prefer to keep your home the same throughout the year?

And when you decorate, do you shop for new pieces each year, or do you prefer to reuse and reinvent what you already have?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comments.

This blog may contain a few carefully placed ads between paragraphs to support my work. Thank you for reading and supporting this space!