It is getting easier. I wonder how easy it will be on day 365? Will we still have things we can get rid of or will we be sitting on a milk crate, eating apples and singing 'WTF did we do that for'?
Who knows. I think there are so many things we really don't need or even want, that we could go for two years without blinking. Scary really!
Candles, Nic Naks and um...er... no thanks
It was fun going through the glasses/candle cabinet. We had a few candle holders that just were not us. They sit there hidden amongst there friends, without ever being noticed. The quiet ones that sit at the back of the room.
Well today they are celebrated and set free. Someone else will love them and they won't feel ignored as they have done here at our place.
What went out - 10 items
A mix of candle holders, candles (scented... not a fan of scented candles) and a couple of nic naks)
What came in - 0 items
We are aware of how much lighter we feel because the 'flow in' has all but stopped.
INSIGHTS
(1) Doing it together is way more fun!
(2) Only keep what you really love. Once a gift is given to you, you can do with it what you want. Re-gift or donate it so it can find it's rightful owner.
TOTAL: OUT - 429 IN - 29
A quick trip to the shops was required to pick up some pens for Miss 12 year old. We also wanted to get Jerry a tea cup as we are both drinking tea now more than coffee and we only have one tea cup...LOL And yes, both items are on our wish lists. First wish-list purchases.
While we were out and about Sammi wanted to show me the curved screen TV. We made a conscious choice not to go through the '3 blue-ray DVDs for $30' bin, nor look at any iPhone accessories, or other very tempting techie stuff. It was easy once we made the choice. The TV was ok and interesting but that was about it.
Then as we passed the travel agents shop front I remembered our wish-list adventures we have been dreaming up. So I went in and grabbed two brochures for Tasmania and Romantic Getaways. Good for me, no expenditure and starting to fuel our heart choices.
Then off we went... SUDDENLY it dawns on me that these two brochures, that we are surely to flick through and throw out are clutter!! BUSTED!! So we walked back to the store and put them back on the very colourful, glossy covered, 'take me' shelf. And out we went proud as punch that we had once again avoided the consumer game we are playing on ourselves.
On the way home Sammi and I calculated how much we saved by not impulse buying things like take-away food etc. It added up to $60.50. How about that.
What went out - 3 items
How many candle holders do you really need? A quick look in the candle cupboard and consumer pennies start dropping everywhere. So out go 3 candle holders we have NEVER used.
What came in - 5 items
4 pens from Sammi's wish-list and 1 tea cup from Jerry's wish-list.
INSIGHTS
(1) Anything I bring into our home or into our lives has to enhance it or move us closer to our choices. Otherwise it is clutter.
(2) Every decision NOT to buy something is taking us forward.
TOTAL: OUT - 307 IN - 9
Woke up to a rainy Sunday morning...just gorgeous. So we planned an indoor sports day: cleaning up a little in the morning to add to the gone-ski box, delicious massage at 10am, off to the movies to see 'Into The Woods' in the afternoon and then home for a relaxing Sunday night with our family. It was a great day.
This new way of being in relation to consumerism coincides with a shift in other areas of my life. Not sure which is the chicken and which is the egg. Regardless there is a massive shift happening this year. I am sure my rather sore lower back is a reflection of this. Time will tell.
It is amazing when you focus on an area of life, how it changes, informs you and opens a window to other areas.
What went out - 9 items
Again Miss Sammi stepped up and put 9 items into the gone-ski boxes - 4 in trash, 5 in gifting. We are over 300 now!! Woohoo!!
What came in - 0 items
Oh yeah, nothing! Ok... getting all smarty pants now....LOL
INSIGHTS
(1) The physical world is a direct reflection of the emotional world
(2) Experiencing something with our family is WAY better than buying 'stuff'
TOTAL: OUT - 304 IN - 4
Oh dear, I cleaned out the fridge after our Christmas and New Year feasting and found so many foods we need to throw out.
It has become apparent this consumer train I am driving includes the wasted foods we are not enjoying through our bodies. The more I explore this part of my life the more I realise how desensitised I have been to this self created unsustainable model.
On a lighter side, I commenced my journey to learn to play piano so I can write the music to some lyrics I wrote back in 2012. My 12 year old daughter (who plays) is teaching me. It was fun doing scales and learning to play children's songs.
What went out - 2 items
Found a candle that is scented and will never be used by us. We love candles but prefer non scented ones. I think I will drop this at the op shop.
We also returned a throw rug that we borrowed from a friend.
What came in - 1 0 items
My ex dropped by and showed us two coffee bean sacks he was given by a friend. He said he got one for us. We had a few wines and so we didn't question it at the time. The next morning I woke up aware that this sack was NOT true for us to have and no sooner had it arrived, would it be walked out the door.
I called Steve (ex) and asked him to grab it next time he drops by. He said "yeah, I thought it was odd that you took it given your current blog on consumerism".
What we wasted
I feel sick as I write this, but I have to share the truth... here are the foods I had to throw out.
5 bananas, 2 servings of homemade lasagne, 2 lemons, salad, 2 half onions, 1 bread roll, 2 strawberries, a dozen blueberries, 6 baby cucumbers, 2 half bags of spinach and rocket, and 2 bags of carrots (from my juice fast in November).
I am going to find a way to ensure we eat everything we buy...keep ya posted!
Insights
(1) I need to let our family and friends know that we prefer no more 'stuff' for gifts. This will be interesting as my mum loves to buy us 'stuff'. No trip to her place has us leave empty handed. I'm scared.
(2) I have been totally disconnected from MY responsibilities in regards to eating the food we buy. I have a new sense of connection to the gifts of food in our fridge.
TOTAL: OUT - 44 IN - 0
