The Main Difference Between Life and T.J. Maxx
Image by Jenni’s Pictures Rock
Guest post by Leigh Ann Napier
I love T.J. Maxx. Just love it! You never pay full price for anything and I am so cheap -I mean, frugal - that I will even look for the clearance on top of the clearance. Now I try to stay away from there because almost always I find an amazing deal on something I didn’t think I needed… until I saw what a great deal it was. All of a sudden I start thinking of who I could give it to…even if I’ve never exchanged gifts with this person in my life! I usually come to my senses before I make it to the check-out line. A combination of my grandfather’s voice and Dave Ramsey’s reminding me that “A deal isn’t a deal unless you can actually afford it.” I just want others to know what I’ve found! I want to share these “shopportunities” with the world.
As I mentioned, I try to stay away. It’s just too tempting! But this weekend, my husband asked if we could go in so he could look for a new shirt. I told him to go without me. He asked me why and I said because I would spend money. He said you don’t have to spend money, just come in and look around. Yeah, right. After spending the last 8 years with me, it’s frightening how little he knows me… 8^)
So, we have our 3 year old daughter with us and that helps me with this “window shop” experiment. She of course has to check out the toy section and make a couple of trips to the store’s restroom. Since she has become potty trained, she has made it her personal mission to take a trip to every public restroom within her reach. But still, even with these interruptions, I managed to find a sweater, a purse, and a rug (at the checkout counter that I spotted behind the clerk that had been returned but not loaded back to its proper location). I knew my bargain hunting had reached extreme status when I found myself asking if I could get a discount on the clearance purse because the magnetic closure was missing its magnet. He told me he couldn’t discount a clearance item. Oh well, at least I could carry my purse with good conscience that I had tried to get the extra discount!
My husband found some undershirts, a pair of socks, and a belt. Not the shirt he went in after. I conquered the purse, the sweater, and the rug. None of which I went in trying to find. Most of the time, if I go to T.J.Maxx looking for a particular thing, I can’t find it. It simply does not exist. But the next time I go in looking for something entirely different, I find what I wanted a month ago.
That’s the main difference between life and T.J. Maxx. T.J.Maxx you rarely find what you’re looking for and with life you most always do. Are you going in to your day expecting to meet wonderful people? To be blessed? To make a difference in the lives of others? Are you aware of all you have to be thankful for? Or do you find yourself looking for the worst in other people, just getting through your day, always upset over something? If I’m getting irritated, I ask myself what I am focusing on: what I lack or what I already have. Because it is what you focus on that gets bigger. This simple shift in thinking will change my perspective, refuel my joy, and remind me that I can make a difference. I may only influence one other person in a positive way that day but if they take that encouragement and pass it on to everyone they meet that day, then I’ve made a difference.
Now I’m off to return the rug (the colors weren’t right) and to search for the proper size magnet to fix my purse.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8
CommentsThis week’s guest post was written by Leigh Ann Napier, iBloom Life/Marriage Coach. Leigh Ann works with women who “refuse to crash” in their marriages and helps single/engaged women who want to plant seeds for a fruitful, loving & lasting marriage. She provides coaching, encouragement and resources to women and helps them promote intimacy and understanding with their mate.
