Seneca: Consider what we chase so fiercely: little of it…

Price is only one part of a purchase. A possession can also require research, maintenance, storage, attention, and worry. A new commitment may cost evenings, energy, and the ability to be fully present elsewhere. Before pursuing something today, calculate in these wider terms. What will it ask of you after the excitement fades? What will you have less room for if you say yes? This is not an argument for bare rooms or a joyless life. Useful and beautiful things can deserve their place. The point is to choose them awake. Try clearing one small surface, cancelling one unnecessary task, or delaying one impulse buy for a day. You may find that having less to manage gives back more than the item promised.