Every action impacts the whole. Whoa!! That's pretty deep isn't it?!
Why bother?.. well let me tell you why.
If you slow the inward flow and at the same time de-clutter the space you occupy, life changes. You feel better, your food taste nicer, your sex life improves, you sleep deeper, your connection to self grows, your view of life shifts and your relationship with others deepens.
Let me give you an example...
When I came across the Occupy Wall Street movement I had a reaction. I thought it was as equally bad an idea as those they were trying to bring down.
My view is this... if you rip this system down quickly it is not the dudes at the top that will get hurt, it is the mums and dads working in these corporations, earning a living, feeding their families etc that will crumble. Imagine the impact of all the banks shutting down tomorrow. All their employees, their families and friends will be shattered... emotionally, financially and spiritually. AND all of us are impacted...just think about it.
This would bring down and possibly destroy the fabric of society. Then what?
My view is, we need to slowly unplug from the corporatized co-dependent consumer culture. This will enable the market to respond and refocus supply to the new demands. It's that simple.
So my question to me is... what am I demanding from the market?
Am I demanding clean, fresh, real food... or do I continue to demand processed, non-seasonal goods? Am I demanding sustainable products made without harm to the environment or people... or do I look for cheap unsustainable products?
You get the picture.
When we each shift, we impact those around us. It is sometimes referred to as the 'butterfly effect'. It's a part of chaos theory... makes sense? (yes...go to google).
We shift a culture by the choices we make. We are human beings and can only take one step at a time. My goal is to make good choices and unravel this mess.... SLOWLY!!!
Cheers from Deb (Captain of the 'let's consider the whole as we shift' team)
What went out - 3 items
A few small boxes in the office cupboard (it's like a clown car...seriously!!)
What came in - 1 items
A photo jacket vest for Jerry... from the wish-list
INSIGHTS
(1) Riot mentality won't resolve big issues
(2) Every choice I make impacts us all
(3) I love apples (real, local, fresh and non-GMO)
TOTAL: OUT - 937 IN - 117
TOTAL CASH sales from gone-ski items = $48
When I look at my home, it is rather tidy and appears sorted... the closer I look, the more I know that's simply not the case.
Why the heck do we keep this stuff?
What has us not realise straight up that we won't need to keep every USB extension cord that crosses our path. Or those iPhone boxes that are just so deliciously yummy. We can't seem to part with them. Oh of course we MAY sell the phone one day and NEED that box. We have been through iPhone 3's, 4's and now have 5's soon to be 6's. And yet we have a known transition plan. When we upgrade Steve (ex hubby) gets my 5 and Sammi gets Jerry's.
So please someone with more understanding than me.... why do we hold on to this stuff?
I figure that if I don't have a storage area for them, they won't be kept. Perhaps I should leave all the boxes and fabulously sexy packaging at the store. If we all did that, would apple get a message and stop creating this waste? Dreaming there miss Deb...dreaming.
I know if I start at my home and with my family, this day by day shift will make a difference to our choices. This blog, may help stimulate a sprinkle of extra consideration when making purchases in others. I believe it is small changes that make the biggest difference.
I wonder how magical it would have been to live in simpler times. I believe there was more connection, deeper relationships, less dis-ease, and smarter choices. I am worming my way back to this simple way of living. I am nervous because I love my mod cons... but I know that once I break the back of this consumer drug I will experience a new found freedom.
Cheers Deb (riding the wave of 'simple')
What went out - 16 items
A bunch of old and useless tech.
What came in - 0 items
A good weekend of no purchases
INSIGHTS
(1) I am completely sucked into sexy packaging
(2) The amount of packaging appears to be getting worse, not better
(3) Small changes can make a big difference
TOTAL: OUT - 923 IN - 116
TOTAL CASH sales from gone-ski items = $48
We enjoyed a magical day with my ex in-laws yesterday celebrating her 80th birthday and their 60 years of marriage. Amazing!
Incoming Gifts
This was the first time we had seen relatives since Christmas and the start of this new 'non consumerism' journey. We hadn't yet shared our journey with them. They had a gift for me for my birthday... a serving platter. What now?
It was beautiful (tick) and replaced the one we tossed out that had chips on the corners (tick). So I guess in a way it is welcomed, but did we really need it? (the jury is out) Probably not. None the less it is in the cupboard and we will see if we reach for it.
Outgoing Gifts
We, in turn, took gifts for their 60th wedding anniversary and her 80th birthday. We decided on flowers and a bottle of Moet... and a small glass diamond (in an old gift box we had lying around) signifying 60 years of marriage. When the celebration occurred we openly shared our hearts with them in the form of the spoken word (no on an expensive, environmentally irresponsible, store purchased card.) It was so warmly received and I am sure connected more to their hearts than the alternative.
What I loved was the amount of love that Steve (ex hubby) and his sister went to for their celebrations. Lisa organised a gorgeous cake and a letter from the queen, our Prime Minister, the Governor General, their local MP and another MP. Amazing and truly thoughtful gifts from the heart.
Steve organised champagne, made an awesome fruit platter and bought his mum a book. Very thoughtful and loving.
All in all, the day was full of love.... it was great!
Cheers from Deb (tears of appreciation in her eyes)
What came in - 1 item
Birthday present for me - the platter
What went out - 2 items
Two small nic-naks
INSIGHTS
(1) The spoken word is so powerful, especially from the heart
(2) There are many gifts that mean so much, that costs nothing (financially, environmentally, emotionally)
(3) Their is a sense of guilt from not 'gifting' in the traditional way - boy this really shines a light on the power of the media and the consumer calendar.
TOTAL: OUT - 770 IN - 67
TOTAL CASH sales from gone-ski items = $48
Am I the only one with this disaster? Or does everyone do the 'where are those shoes' tantrum as they hunt through the boxes? Or worse, find a pair you had forgotten you had?
For ever I had left my shoes in their boxes and placed them in the growing shoe box pile at the bottom of my wardrobe. Often they would have a rest after a long day or night out before they made it back to their box. In summary IT WAS A MESS!!
I know from visiting my friends that this is a common issue and is definitely not solved by buying 'see-through shoe boxes' for a crazy price that just make the mess look pretty.
Lets solve the problem - GET RID OF THE BOXES
Actually, don't even bring them home. Leave them at the store!
Here's what we did.
We found a small closet that was contained various house stuff we rarely used. It was at the end of our hall way and was the perfect depth for shoes (30-40cm / 12-16 inches). So we gutted the closet (took out all the shelves and fixtures), repainted it and then put in heaps of shelves to fit the shoes (some high for heels, some low for flats and at the bottom it was tall enough for my longest boots).
Now, I simply put on clothes, open the shoe closet and find the perfect pair. No mess, no boxes and no waste.
You could do the very same at the bottom of your wardrobe by making selves....or find a wall inside your walk in robe and put in the shelves.
The main thing is to get rid of the clutter, make it easier to find your shoes so you don't need to buy more... as you will realise you have enough or discover you need to add something to your wish-list.
Other clever ideas
What went out - 1 item
I found a box perfect for a birthday gift for my friend...so out it goes.
What came in - 1 items
I bought myself a tea strainer...yes it was an impulse buy.
INSIGHTS
(1) I need to put more effort into my wish-list
(2) Spending time with friends beats shopping every time
TOTAL: OUT - 621 IN - 49
I decided to do on top of the fridge... it was hilarious!
Take it all off first
My way of de-cluttering is to take it all out first and only put back what I would buy if I didn't already have it - a good principle to work by.
So everything came off the top of the fridge and in the end NOTHING remained... LOL.
The two boxes of spare champagne glasses we have (when the thirty people come for a party), the massive cane tray we have NEVER used, the heart shaped (coated) baking tray and plastic cupcake liners are all going to a better home.
The serviettes, place mats, and hand towels have been put in a more handy place.
The six more empty boxes were added to the gone-ski pile.
What will I put on top of my fridge? Not wine as it is too warm, not anything heavy as it is silly.. how about my cook books? They are currently hidden away in a cabinet...out of sight, out of mind.
Ok...here's what I am going to do. I will find an old wooden box that I can repurpose and put my cook books on top of the fridge. That way I can use them more often and enjoy more cooking with my family... yay!!
What went out - 11 items
6 more empty boxes, a cake tin, 2 trays, an old oil bottle (that would not clean properly), and a set of plastic cupcake cookware.
What came in - 0 items
It is amazing how little interest in shopping I have at the moment. WTF is wrong with me!?!
INSIGHTS
(1) Creating clear space is so refreshing to my soul
(2) There is often a better place to put things
TOTAL: OUT - 620 IN - 48
I was wandering around the house trying to find the next place of focus. I looked up above the pantry in the kitchen....BAM!!
How long have you been there hidden in plain sight? LOL
There were 4 empty wine and beer glass boxes. Now I could argue that I may need them one day to pack up and move, or take them on a picnic, or some other reason to keep them. But the honest truth is, I may never use those boxes again... and all they will ever do is sit there and take up space and create an eyesore. Gone-ski!!
So is keeping the boxes about saving? Saving waste, saving the environment by preventing having to buy another one, saving time by having it available now etc.
Where is the line between useful saving and hoarding where the cost of keeping outweighs the value of letting go?
This is a trap for us all in one way or another. Hoarding (I believe) is the 'need' to keep...just in case. Our 'just in case' reasons are unique to us.
Here's a question:
Does this item constrain me, prevent my freedom, invade our space, take time but give little back, demand energy or distract me from my passions?
or
Does this item expand me, enable my freedom, add to my passion, bring joy to our space, enable a better future, inspire us etc?
It's interesting that is happening at this time of life as I watch my parents having to consider down-sizing. What do they do with all the 'stuff' they have accumulated?
Interesting!
What went out - 4 items
4 wine glass boxes. Aren't they funny things to keep.
What came in - 0 items
Doing great on this now.
INSIGHTS
(1) There are things that have been there all along that I cannot see (as in life)
(2) I don't really NEED much
TOTAL: OUT - 609 IN - 48
