How Not to Hate Yourself When You're an Idiot

I spent a lot of money at Istanbul Rugs on an area rug I was buying just so it wouldn't show spots as much as the light gray one I have, and I won't even tell you how much I paid, but we can assume it was about double what the same rug would have cost at Macy's. I did no research to find out ahead of time what the going rate was, and I didn't even ask a Pakistani-American friend who knows about area rugs from Turkey and other places. I just wanted a rug, and I wanted Jonathan's help in choosing one, so we went during the one-hour window he had between waking up and his three reunions with friends that day.

Then after I saw that it didn't cover the spots at all, and of course the beige background wasn't gray, I was filled with self-loathing and the awareness that every time I entered the study I'd be reminded of what an idiot I am.

Then I entered the study.  Much to my relief, it didn't make me sick to my stomach (a strong point for something you've just bought way over the price).  True, it doesn't cover all the spots.  True, I was an idiot to buy it without doing research, and I'm sure I paid too much.  But beauty conquers almost all, and whatever it doesn't conquer can be conquered by the thought that I value time much more than I value money, and it's beautiful.