So it all began last year. I think it was around Christmas time because spending was on my mind more than usual. I came across an article in a magazine about a lady who had decided to give up shopping. What? Is that even possible? Yeah. Apparently. Her name was Judith Levine and she was someone crazy enough to put it out there that maybe our "consuming" is getting a little out of hand.
Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I was preparing to move out of home after years in one house. I felt suffocated by all of the "stuff" I had - but I couldn't let it go. It got me thinking about consuming and material possessions in general. How could it be that they could have such a hold over me that, although they no longer had use or value, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them? Did I own my stuff...or did my stuff own me? I started researching the psychology behind clutter. Facinating. One episode of the show "Hoarders" will give you some startling insights, too. People, my research suggests, shop when they're stressed, bored, celebrating, nervous....etc. It's a way to "feel" good. We don't want the item, we want the feeling we'll get from purchasing it. Sometimes things don't ever leave their shopping bags.
Fast-track to now, Thursday June 30th, 2011. I've decided that, at the end of the financial year, which is now, I'm going to forego shopping for anything bar necessities for a year. No presents for others, no clothes, no magazines (waaahhh!), no decorative things for the house. Zip. Nada. None. I'm afraid of failing but I'm also excited about the type of life this challenge makes available. I'm looking forward to using my time, energy and resources in different, more creative ways. I'm driven by the fact that I will slow down the rate at which I accumulate "stuff" that robs me of physical and mental space!
I plan to update this blog weekly in an effort to remain accountable to my challenge.
