We can't afford it...

We can't afford it...

Do you remember Mom saying this...all the time.  No matter what we needed, wanted, mentioned, we got the same response - we can't afford it.

And mostly, we could not. I look back and marvel sometimes.  We had food and a home, we had enough clothes, glasses, we went to the dentist...all on a soldier's salary.  And there really wasn't much left over for extras...

But the message that remains is - We can't afford.

This week, I was trying to define the word "afford" to someone learning this language. The definitions I came up with all contained the word "enough".

I suddenly realized we were raised with the idea of not enough.  We are not enough, there is not enough...

Just thinking about messages hidden in our daily languag.

Of course, there is enough...but do we need this? Maybe a better answer.

Thinking...Clare