Dare I say I love donkey’s as much as I love dachshunds? Well, perhaps it’s like being a parent. You love all your kids and each one offers something different you love them for. That must be it for me and my love of doxie’s and donkeys.

I didn’t plan on stopping at a little antique and artistic shop on my way home today. But something told me to. And well, it just could also be that I recently re-did my living room with new furniture and some new decor, and now am taking my time thinking about updates for the kitchen too, so everything flows.

I’ve gone from dark furniture, to light tans, soft blues and greens, with splashes of purple and gray. Painting the living room and kitchen is in the plans for the future so that a new wall color will flow more nicely between the two spaces.

When I saw this donkey, I put my hand on my heart, and softly gasped. Then tears pooled in my eyes and in my mind I said, “Oh, how I love you dear donkey.” 

It seemed I stood there forever, mesmerized by such a sweet painting. I love supporting artists. And well, I love donkeys! Such a win-win. 

But then I tried to talk myself out of it, as I usually do. While it’s not an original, the price tag $49.50. Not bad, really. But should I really spend the money? New furniture has certainly not been inexpensive. Though the furniture before this, we had for close to 25 years. The new change has had me swooning every morning lately when I get up each morning and turn the lights on.

But oh, this painting was tugging big time at my heart strings. I went to the register with a few small purchases in hand. I mentioned to the clerk how I loved the donkey painting. “I may be back,” I said.

I can be a worry wart about money and sometimes live in a space of lack or worried about the potential of lack. Or the “what if” there is an emergency? In part, I know this is due to the economy plunging in 2008 and along with so many others, we had to make some very tough decisions.

It’s interesting in that last night I listened to a replay from coach Jocelyn Mercado talking about money and how so many of us live in this space of worry and thinking we shouldn’t have this or that. Or if we have more money it will make us bad people. She said money isn’t bad, it’s people who can be bad. She talked about how we need to shift our money around doing good things with it.

I definitely try to be conscious of what I spend and not spend above my means. And then there’s the whole accepting abundance in your life, showing the universe you believe you are worthy, and more abundance comes to you.

And who can argue with my heart that just adores donkeys? As the clerk rang up my small purchase, I noted the change on the counter as I was looking what I had left in my wallet. 

“That’s it,” I said. “Who am I kidding? I’m taking that donkey painting home with me. I just love him and life is short.”

One of the things I take great pride in is our home. While we don’t live in a mansion, within these walls I think there is a whole lot of love. We live simply in that we enjoy being home on the weekends, just hanging out and talking, playing Yahtzee, or watching movies.

To fill our space with things we love and make our hearts happy…well, that just adds that much more to the love. And so the donkey painting followed me home. During the drive back to my little cottage in the village, I smiled as Gus rode in the front seat with me.

Once home, and looking the artist up on the internet, I discovered that the donkey’s name is Gus, and the artist, Kellie Montana describes her work as “whimsical renderings of the ordinary.”  And so this purchase is so much more. It’s about, yes, my love of donkey’s, but also my love of home, and my love of supporting artists. Seeing Kellie on her website and feeling the joy that oozed from her face and her page, well, it just makes it feel like a big time win-win-win. 

XO,

Barbara