There are many resolutions we have at our beaconing and many ideas have crossed my path over the past two months. The one I have chosen is inspired by The Year of Less by Cait Flanders.
After a few searches and another recap on decluttering, I found Cait's book and was captured by her story. After some thought, exploring my current situation, and a quick inventory, I have decided this is the year of less for me.
Not surprisingly as soon as I decided I began to see many things I would like to purchase (primarily impulse and most of the things I don't know if I will actually even use). I followed through with a couple of purchases fully aware, fully awake, and noticed my personal shopping coma Cait mentions in her story.
I started denying myself when I wanted to buy a gallon of white glue for a project I have had in mind for the past week. I have a small container of white glue. The project I'm thinking of will take three times that. I have decided to put a gallon of white glue on my Approved List with the prerequisite that I will need to actually start the project and use what I have first before I buy more.
The Year of Less list includes creating a list of things it is okay to purchase (consumables such as food, toiletries, and day-to-day supplies), a list of things or services it is ok to purchase only if needed and the item cannot be repaired. My list would include prescription glasses, white glue, and necessities that need to be replaced but aren't repairable and I cannot live without. One way she recommends to know if something is a necessity is to try to live without it for 30 days then decide if it is essential.
Another list is my business expenses. I will allow myself the overhead currently in motion but will not allow anything 'new' no new services, no new ventures (unless they can be accomplished with existing resources), and at risk of another layer in the process shown to me today "going deeper" where it is recommended to spend the year going deeper into what is already underway, skills I have already started to learn and can practice them (rather than starting something new).
Another list is inventory and letting go of anything in excess. For example, I found another three pairs of jeans that need hemming. I put them in a pile to be hemmed. Continued to try on jeans. Found two pair almost exactly like those that need to be hemmed that don't need to be hemmed. So, the longer three pairs are going into the donation pile and will be given to the Hope Chest.
This theme of keeping things that need sewing or altering is going to come up many times as I take inventory of my wardrobe. And possibly other areas as well when things need to be repaired but I keep them anyway. I will be going through material belongings with a new perspective and letting go of anything taking up space without being used. Someone else can use it, or in the case of it needing repairing, it may be best to toss it.
Would I actually repair it if given that as the only option? Perhaps if I didn't already have enough functional items to use instead.
There are a few goals in this decision. One is to make space. Another is to not leave this 'stuff' for someone else to deal with. And, maybe the most concerning issue is a deep feeling something is going to change and I will need to be able to change venues quickly (which would be easier with some savings and less stuff).
My 2020 Resolution is to not buy anything new. To not hold on to anything not being loved and used. To not shift my impulsive behavior about 'things' shift to something else. Rather I will sit with each trigger as it is encountered and mindfully work through it to the root of the issue.
Some of these have already started to bubble up. Once upon a time I remember identifying to my core to the saying "I've done so much with so little for so long now I can do just about anything with absolutely nothing." Deep down I felt deprived (this is also a deeper well to travel down - regarding worth and letting go of guilt for having anything). I felt as if being deprived was punishment. I spent so much time giving every little shred away to earn worthiness, I found myself constantly in need of something.
The past five years have been on the opposite side of the balance. I let go of feeling unworthy, began to give proportionally to my resources, found many situations where I would have nothing to put on a list of things I needed. A month or so ago someone asked what I wanted for Christmas and wouldn't let me not need anything. So, after a few tries, searching for anything I actually needed and would use, I said Pajamas. She bought three pair (all wonderful and my style) I've worn them every night.
The only reason I didn't have pajamas is I work from home and normally wear comfy clothes all day long, put on clean clothes after a midday shower (after chores), which generally means the clothes aren't even ready to be changed yet, so, at bedtime, they are my pajamas. It is nice (and a bit awkward) to join the rest of the culture who wears different clothing at night. It also gives me a good start on my 'capsule wardrobe' plans. Exactly how many pairs of sweatpants do I need?
At this moment it is eight hours before my year-of-less, the shopping ban (browsing ban - email discounts ad ban) begins. And I'm not going to shop. As I type I am cramped in between a desk and an art table (on a chair that spins from this to that), while mentally plotting my plan to end 2020 with Eight Boxes and one Suitcase of personal belongings and two bins of tools and creative supplies.
Brightest Blessings,
Deb
