Edel Coffey: I’m learning the difference between things I want and things I need

'My parents brought me up to believe that as long as we had food, heat and a roof over our heads we had everything we needed. And the older I get the more I realise that’s true'

Essential is the keyword here. Picture: Ray Ryan

Have you noticed the evenings have been closing in very quickly this past week? The sun seems to sneak out of sight earlier and earlier each day. It’s normal at this time of year, but it still seems to happen too quickly.

Maybe it’s got something to do with our acute awareness of steeply rising energy prices and the severe increase in the cost of living. One evening last week, as the light started to fade, I automatically flipped on the lamp in my hallway, chasing away the early-evening gloaming. But as I did so, I felt a hesitation.