It's been three weeks since my last blog. Yeah, (sigh) "something's happened" I bought something NEW. Actually TWO things. I feel like, on some level,that I am making a "confession" (I grew up Catholic and am now a RC- Recoveing Catholic- but that's another story)...
I bought the DVD "The Emerald Forest" for $ 4.99 (I LOVE this movie and thought it would be great to own a copy)...Given it was my birthday this month, I was able to convince my husband to "buy it for me". Am I now "off the hook" ? Or is that being out of integrity? Not wanting to get neurotic (or anal), I've decided that it's NOT about having a "perfect score"- that would be anal and neurotic (and catholic). I've already heightened my awareness of buying things and that, in itself, feels great.
It does bring in the question of others buying NEW things for me... the birthday thing created that awareness... so how far does it go? Again, awareness and mindfulness would be the "way of being" and the "way of buying" to go for.
Don't get me wrong. I LIKE THINGS....and GETTING THINGS, too. Don't we all? It's having the attachment of increasingly 'getting things' that needs some attention.
The second item I bought (just yesterday). It was a journal notebook for $2.49. I had purused my already-at-home-half-used journals and decided for the purpose intended, they wouldn't do. I am okay with this purchase.
For the last few weeks, I have also consciously avoided certain "traps" of succumbing to mindless buying:
1) Where I work, there are a few floating salespersons of books and other "delicious candies" for teachers. I no longer browse the table of samples.
2) I use cash always. Makes me connected to the fact the money is coming from MY bank account. (I've heard somewhere, that people spend 20% more with VISAs. It's one generation away from the real thing, I suppose.
3) No mall shopping
4) We're now borrowing DVD's and books from the library for a fresh selection.
The next thing to do is FREEZE the VEEZA (visa). Stay tuned.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
The Story of Stuff: get enlightened...You owe it to yourself and the earth
There is MUST-see website that my friend Donna forwarded to me regarding STUFF and BUYING (also known as "BYE-ing"-that is, saying BYE to our Earth.) This site features a 20 minute video that, I must say, was well-timed for my new 'way of being'(and buying) with respect to buying nothing new for one year.
The Story of Stuff is narrated by a brilliant women named Annie Leonard. (Gee, I like her last name. I feel we're somewhat related already. Smile.)Her video is more than captivating. She translates mumbo-jumbo garbled corporate jargon into a fireworks of consumer-friendly light-bulb A-HAs, one point after another. To get enlightened, please visit:
www.storyofstuff.com/
It is worth EVERY minute and cent of your precious time.
The Story of Stuff is narrated by a brilliant women named Annie Leonard. (Gee, I like her last name. I feel we're somewhat related already. Smile.)Her video is more than captivating. She translates mumbo-jumbo garbled corporate jargon into a fireworks of consumer-friendly light-bulb A-HAs, one point after another. To get enlightened, please visit:
www.storyofstuff.com/
It is worth EVERY minute and cent of your precious time.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
I mean buy nothing NEW...for one year
I've been inspired by my friend Donna whom practiced this all of last year. Just around Christmas 2007, I started thinking about all this STUFF, clutter, collecting and feeling rather 'heavy' about it all. What we own seems to own us. Not very liberating.
One late night, I surfed the net and googled "buy nothing" and "buy nothing for one year". I was more than intrigued. While I had already known of the 'Nov. 24 buy nothing day', I learned a lot of other new information!
I learned of "zen santa's" - people who dressed up as Santa and sat in lotus pose in malls promoted 'no shopping' around the Chrismas season.
I learned of a group of people in San Fran., California who committed to this practice for one year and inspired thousands of other to join in. They call themselves "The Compact".
I learned about Alternative Gifts International (AGI). Instead of tangible gift giving, use your money to support endeavours world wide. Like buying bikes for women and girls in Tanzania and Namibia (incidentally, the bike saves them 3 hours a day when travelling 10 miles not to mention being able to carry 5 times more firewood than on foot.) Or enhancing the physical well being of children with cerebral palsy in Vietnam by providing therapy equipment and staff training. AGI has endless other ideas. Awesome.
I learned that Oxfam Unwrapped also have a similar plan in place. Teaching a teacher or buying a goat for a nomadic tribe.
The more I read, the more inspired I became.
I started January 1, 2008. It is now Jan. 5 and I feel lighter already. Why ? I am USING UP the things that are already in my home that are already BOUGHT, NEW and UNUSED. I am beginning to get resourceful and am catching myself in the middle of a thought or spoken sentence. For example, my friend is soon heading to Costa Rica. Having travelled there twice I LOVE that country. Before realizing it, I was already asking my friend that if I gave her money could she buy something- you know- a souvenir for my three-year old daughter. I caught myself mid-sentence.
I am becoming increasing aware of my way of thinking about shopping and acquiring things. I am watching my thoughts and the ingrained habit about just going out to buy something!
Greetings cards are an incredible money sucking concept that people end up throwing out (or at least hopefully recycling). A card these days easily costs $5 CAN and where does it end up ? I just made three greeting cards today using photographs-okay I had to go get them printed at 15 cents a piece. The cards are personal and customized with the person in mind. They're an instant keeper. And well, I guess I saved $15 which I will put aside for a family vacation.
While saving money is not the point of this journey, it will be a nice byproduct.
I can already see that I will be USING UP what's already in our home, thus slowly DE-cluttering our space. And THAT's exciting. I shall savour that ceremony too.
You know, I am already feeling a little lighter these days !
One late night, I surfed the net and googled "buy nothing" and "buy nothing for one year". I was more than intrigued. While I had already known of the 'Nov. 24 buy nothing day', I learned a lot of other new information!
I learned of "zen santa's" - people who dressed up as Santa and sat in lotus pose in malls promoted 'no shopping' around the Chrismas season.
I learned of a group of people in San Fran., California who committed to this practice for one year and inspired thousands of other to join in. They call themselves "The Compact".
I learned about Alternative Gifts International (AGI). Instead of tangible gift giving, use your money to support endeavours world wide. Like buying bikes for women and girls in Tanzania and Namibia (incidentally, the bike saves them 3 hours a day when travelling 10 miles not to mention being able to carry 5 times more firewood than on foot.) Or enhancing the physical well being of children with cerebral palsy in Vietnam by providing therapy equipment and staff training. AGI has endless other ideas. Awesome.
I learned that Oxfam Unwrapped also have a similar plan in place. Teaching a teacher or buying a goat for a nomadic tribe.
The more I read, the more inspired I became.
I started January 1, 2008. It is now Jan. 5 and I feel lighter already. Why ? I am USING UP the things that are already in my home that are already BOUGHT, NEW and UNUSED. I am beginning to get resourceful and am catching myself in the middle of a thought or spoken sentence. For example, my friend is soon heading to Costa Rica. Having travelled there twice I LOVE that country. Before realizing it, I was already asking my friend that if I gave her money could she buy something- you know- a souvenir for my three-year old daughter. I caught myself mid-sentence.
I am becoming increasing aware of my way of thinking about shopping and acquiring things. I am watching my thoughts and the ingrained habit about just going out to buy something!
Greetings cards are an incredible money sucking concept that people end up throwing out (or at least hopefully recycling). A card these days easily costs $5 CAN and where does it end up ? I just made three greeting cards today using photographs-okay I had to go get them printed at 15 cents a piece. The cards are personal and customized with the person in mind. They're an instant keeper. And well, I guess I saved $15 which I will put aside for a family vacation.
While saving money is not the point of this journey, it will be a nice byproduct.
I can already see that I will be USING UP what's already in our home, thus slowly DE-cluttering our space. And THAT's exciting. I shall savour that ceremony too.
You know, I am already feeling a little lighter these days !
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