Is it just me, or do you ever find yourself receiving a gift that you absolutely love, and then saving it?  A few weeks before Christmas, I won the beautiful messenger bag (pictured left) from Sew Sweet Quilt Shop’s blog give-away.  It is a gorgeous bag–beautiful fabric, sturdy, with lots of interior and exterior pockets and a shoulde strap.  For the last few weeks, this bag has been sitting around the house, unused.  I’ve been admiring it, and contemplating how I will use it.  Finally, today, I took the plunge–I threw away an old bag (an old, very ripped, unattractive, plain black bag), and put my notebook and book I am studying in my fancy new messenger bag.  It gave me a lift to not just be admiring my treat bag, but using it as well.  Then, I got to thinking–how often do I hold something back, that I really, really love?

fur coat

Well, apparently, too often, because next I thought of this pretty, fluffy, faux-fur, off-white coat I received for Christmas four years ago.  I love this coat.  It makes me feel absolutely luxurious every time I put it on, and I don’t put it on nearly often enough.  I have probably worn it fewer than twenty times.  Why?  Because I’m saving it for a special occasion.  Because I don’t want to be overdressed.  Because I’m silly!  I did wear it once this winter (so far), and I got a lot of compliments on it.  Everyone thought it was a new coat, because no one had ever seen it before.  I am determined to begin to really use and enjoy the beautiful gifts that I have been given.  Everyone has heard the old saying about saving the good china for a special occasion and never having a chance to use it–well, I am going to apply that lesson to everything.  Why wait?

Finally, this year for Christmas, I received my very first ever digital camera–it’s small and red, and it tucks away perfectly in a compact camera case.  So, where is the camera?  That’s the problem–I keep putting it away.  Then, when I want to take a photo (which is often), I have to go dig it out of its hiding place.  Now, to increase my opportunities to use my new present, I am going to leave the camera out (I know I’m taking a clutter risk!), and possibly even take it with me everywhere!

There’s no reason to wait to enjoy a beautiful gift.  What have you got hidden away that might bring you some joy?