This afternoon, I accidently knocked over a bottle of balsamic vinegar whilst reaching for something else in the pantry. The lid wasn't on properly and it went everywhere.

The negatives of this are:
Wasted balsamic vinegar
A big mess to clean up, including taking everything on that shelf out of the pantry

The positives:
I used it as an opportunity to reaarrange that shelf in the pantry and make more room (the other shelves are now looking chaotic in comparison)
The smell is lovely. I also have fresh bread baking in the oven. Guess what I'll be dipping fresh bread in this afternoon? A bit of olive oil, salt and balsamic vinegar.

Some days, when I'm not feeling great or I am rushed, this could have been a big disaster to me. I didn't really want to rearrange the pantry today (or any day ). Balsamic vinegar isn't cheap and I could have got upset with myself for the waste. However, it was done and at least I still have half a bottle left. I learnt I need to make sure the lid is on tighter in future and that I obviously hadn't been using it much anyway.

Other things I have thought of about this one incident include:

Balsamic vinegar can be a symbol to me of "expensive" items I don't use/eat often because it is precious/expensive etc. Another example is strawberries. They used to be so expensive or I used to get in trouble with siblings for taking more than my share, that I still don't eat them in time. Rather than seen to be greedy, they go to waste and end in the bin. I don't need to deny myself the nicer things in life, in case they aren't there tomorrow. I have learnt that life is short and unpredicatable. I need to find more balance between enjoying today and anticipating the future. I am allowed to eat the strawberries, use up the balsamic vinegar or whatever.

I'm also not going to get into trouble for spilling vinegar. I chose not to have a go at myself, which I may have done in the past. DH won't care and wouldn't have a go anyway. In previous relationships, whether romantic, family or friends/flatmates, spilt vinegar could have ended in an unproductive argument, to be used against me later down the track, "We won't buy anymore of that, you'll just spill it" with much drama created over something that really doesn't matter in the scheme of things. In anticipation of getting in trouble, I would have had a go at myself, created anxiety etc. There literally could have been tears over spilt vinegar. I now look back and wonder what was I thinking, being in a relationship where a little molehill like spilt vinegar could have become such a mountain? More secure in myself now as well as in my partner, I just moved the items out, cleaned it up and got on with things.

I now think I may soak some of the strawberries in the balsamic vinegar to have for dessert. I wonder if they would go with bread? Or bread pudding?

What are some of your life lessons, big or small?