The month after Christmas is dangerous for many and it is brought on by a common factor; lack-of support, family, friends, money, socialization, job security, or merely 'just because'...
One of the most common factors of 'January depression' is the arrival of overly large visa card bills.
The reality is, you will see your bills, hear your screams, and feel your own pain. Whilst it is true, this could be considered a display of narcissism to only hear your own screams. However, we are talking about bills!. In that case, it is not about 'spreading the love'. It is about 'containing the shock'.
Another reality is, you will grieve for a long time. You will not get over your complete lack of in-sight for purchasing many cheap, and expensive, presents that were primarily to ease your own guilt, fear and lack of being able to purchase more than what you did in the first instance.

Overspending is a loss. Elizabeth K Ross had it right when she stated, 'the reality is that you will grieve forever, you will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one, you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will re-build yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will never be whole again, you will never be the same again. Nor should you want to be the same!!!. (a 'loved one' for many people is the $).
As a young woman I was very left-liberal. I was passionate about reducing suffering of sentient – through tackling global poverty, ending factory farming, developing ways to lessen the suffering of wild animals, and exploring how to reduce the pain of all those on a global scale. However, there was no time left to paint, draw and 'do' art. A decision had to be made. I had to learn to have the same compassion for myself and it was, strangely, extremely difficult.
I have always put emphasis on alleviating pain rather than inducing pleasure. Art reduces pain. Art entices pleasure. Once you find your pleasure (of which is held in the-self) you naturally find a trillion pleasures without so much as spending a penny.
Art, or what I paint and teach, was never about the utilitarian impact it was instead about compassion, passion, and the love of doing what you do best; giving of yourself.
Art is to give. Art is to learn how you think and feel about yourself. Art is not about expense, it is about investment. Primarily, it is the investment in the self. Secondary, it is about the investment of 'the other'.
Art lessons available from February 2015.
Happy New Year from Sophie Mill art studio
0426845584