By D.B. Grady
You know you’ve been gnoming for too long when…
- You spend more time at work than you do with your family.
- Your kids think dad’s job is “selling lawn decorations” despite the fact that you never actually sold any to them.
- That one gnome just isn’t enough.
- The neighbors are starting to talk.
- You have a recurring nightmare about a world without garden gnomes.
- When your doctor says to “get some exercise,” you instead invest in more yard decorations.
- Every time you close your eyes, you see the Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood.
- The gnome is no longer an afterthought.
- You’ve lost the will to even try anymore.
This is your life now.
Writing this post brought a smile to my face, but at the same time it caused a pit in my stomach. It was a reminder of a fact that I already knew deep down: I was in too deep. If you have been following along with all of my previous stories, then you already know I have been at this for a while. For me, losing my job was the best thing that ever happened to me. It allowed me to pursue my passion in life: gnome-related ephemera and antiques.
The last six years since finding out about gnomes has given my life a new meaning. I found a career path that I enjoy, and I made new friends who share this interest. My life is full of the kinds of things others dream about: an extended family, new opportunities for travel, and best of all…the company of like-minded individuals.
Even with all these wonderful things happening in my life, I know that I am still too invested in gnome business. I used to think that becoming a collector or dealer would be the point where you say “I’ve made it.” That for me has already passed and I need to get back on track with my life.
Therefore, this blog entry has come about as a self-realization: I need to reassess my life. I need to take a long break from the whole gnome-collecting thing, even though it is truly something that I love. The past six years have been great, but now I need to move on with my life.
It’s time for me to stop acting like a kid in a candy shop and start living like an adult. I need to stop and smell the roses, or at least do something else for a while besides perusing eBay and Etsy for gnomes.
It’s not that I am tired of finding great antiques and collectibles; it’s just that this has become my life…and I can’t help but feel like there is something missing. After all, the only things lasting in this world are families and friends.
I have to stop worrying about what other people will think of me or how they might view my choices if I decide to take a break from the gnomes. The same holds true for you too: don’t be so caught up with what others think that you lose sight of what is really important in life. This isn’t to say you should stop doing the things you love, it’s just time to take a break and smell some new flowers.
After all, there are plenty of gnomes out there–who needs another one?
Do you ever get that feeling like you’ve been gnoming for too long? What do you think the future holds in store for me and my gnome addiction? Let us know in the comments below!
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