How To Make Things Last To Change Your Life For The Better

Lessons passed down from the wisest of generations.

Childhood brings back a fantastic rush of memories. The warm sunny days kissing my light skin, as I run towards my mother in zest while coming back from school. Those memories have stayed with me as long as I can remember.

My mother was a hardworking woman, who worked a day in and out to make ends meet for her family. She is what you can a logistician — working on the fundamental principles of making things last.

When I was an only but an infant I grew attached to a scarf, my mother used to wear. I would wrap it around myself as I would sleep. Even take it to school with me, I used that scarf until the day it became torn apart.

I remember the day, they took it from me. Boy, I cried, my mother gave me another one right the next day. It made me sad, but I got along with it as It was given to me by my mother.

During those early years of my childhood, I paid attention to what my mother would as I would run around her office as she worked due diligently. I never made much fuss around her, and she never really beat me for making a ruckus.

My mother when I was a child, whenever she would buy something. She would tell me a fundamental thing to always use 1/4 of what you normally would so that you make it last longer.

There are many reasons why she said the things she said, but to me, those words from an angelic I thought was my world. Whenever she would buy something for me, I would save it. Whether it be candy, biscuits, or anything in between.

As a kid, I knew we struggled to make ends meet. But I never really bothered my mother at all. Because I didn’t want her to worry whether I was hungry or sad. My mother always tried to give me things that would last days and weeks because I would not waste a single thing.

As a child, whenever I would ask for some money from my mother. Instead of asking for money, I would ask for spare change. I always knew my mother would save a spare change in her drawer, especially for this occasion. So I would come running towards her, and she would give me a few cents.

Back in those days, a few cents could get you a lot many things — if you know what to buy for. I would every day run around the busy bazaars, looking for things to someday buy for my mother when I would have enough. I had got acquainted with many vendors in the bazaars as a kid who would every now and then get along with them and ask them whether that thing has arrived.

When my mother would give me spare change every now, I would put them in my books, and use 1/4 to buy something for myself. I had learned a great deal as a kid to know what to buy for myself. As the vendors would give me something for free, every now and then as a token of affection.

I remembered once I gather a few dollars worth of money and I bought a vase for my mother, where she could place some lilies. I was always fascinated with lilies. So I bought the vase from a shop, my mother’s assistant helped me with carrying it while I ran around excited to show her the surprise.

She saw it and was surprised so were her co-workers as I gave her that vase with a cheeky grin on my face. My mother told me where did you get this, I then told her, that I saved money from the spare change and only spent 1/4 of what I needed.

I was saving it to buy something for you. She hugged me and said, “you shouldn’t do that, silly boy.” I still remember that embrace, and the vase has been with us since then, It has been a few decades.

My mother would buy things, for me every now and then. Though as a kid, I never pushed my mother for things. I always received one thing that mattered to me which was the love and affection of a mother.

My Godmother taught me to make things last as well, she was my mother’s childhood friend and my second mother. I perhaps can say this zest, that I have received the love of many mothers. They taught me the fundamental principles of always thinking of other ways to maximize productivity.

My Godmother taught me once, she showed me how you could even make an empty toothpaste into something usable. She would create many things from the empty utensils. Sometimes she would show me how to make a kite from a carrying bag. One that we would fly in the green sunlit meadows.

Other times, she would teach me how you can weave a shirt from a ball of yarn. My Godmother played a very significant role in teaching me about affection and love. And how it can supplement a need — making it last longer.

Every now and then she would help me learn by taking me places. Those adventures are perhaps the best memories of my childhood. I would even stay with her for weeks in her home with our family. She never married, but I was her child. Her beloved son, whom she loved and adored. My mother taught me a lesson once, by showing me how you can make things last by telling me a story.

Human beings have been bestowed with the best gift of all and that is the sentiment of kindness and affection. When we use it, it creates value in anything or anyone.

She told me that they were very poor when they were growing up. But their mother would always show them how to savor food to its every last bite. She would every now and then feed them a treat — also showing how they can preserve that food item to last longer. It was perhaps how you can relish one thing for long periods — a perspective of life.

These stories grew on me and I would apply them in my life. I never pushed my parents to buy me anything in life. I would always savor whatever was given to me.

When I would receive money from others or a present, I would go and give it to my mother and ask for change. If somebody would give me a dollar. I would run to my mother and ask for change. I would get a few cents, and spend the quarter of it — saving it for later.

I would sometimes buy candy or two, eat one, and save the other two for my mother and my younger sibling. We can always make things last, it is a perspective that makes life so much sweeter, and simpler.

Knowing how to love and give love is the best way one can live. Love is what makes things last when you preserve something you cherish. It grows on you and helps you grow as well.

My entire childhood is filled with lessons I learned from my beloved mothers. They gave me the perspective to make things last. In my adulthood, in the present time. I live a peaceful life, though I never resort to greed nor the other vices — I know the difference, there is one thing I equally give and receive. That is perhaps the love for one’s self and another.

We can make things last, If we have a piece of bread — we can divide it into two. If are more courteous we can even divide it among 6. I know as I have done it before with my friends, we would all save so that we could party together as kids.

The kids who couldn’t get money, we would share our savings with them by giving a 1/ 4 share of each so that it supplements theirs as well. We took care of one another. We made foods, moments, and memories last perhaps even forever.

After a strong lifetime passed, I have been able to use this perspective to my advantage whether its with people, animals, or myself. You can make anything last, as long as it is conditioned with care and love. When you give value to even the most subtle of things, it will help you to showcase emotion, and thus you will care.

When something is valued, then it is treasured, and when it is treasured — it will last longer.

This perspective has served me well in life. It can serve anyone in the most auspicious way. Love is the one thing that can push us to live without paying a price — A value that can change even the direst of situations into pleasant moments of optimism and joy.

It shows one many things, about life and how to live it. Whether it’s your life or your needs, wants, and desires — you can make things last and that’s a promise.

Believe in yourself, keep putting in the constant effort and time will reveal all things.

Thank you so much for reading. Peace.