Taking a shopping break. A little over a year ago, I decided I needed to take a break from shopping. I had in my possession too many possessions, too much of almost everything, really, save money. I’d made shopping into a daily recreation and socialization activity, and justified the relentless consuming by sticking to thrift stores. It doesn’t count if I buy it used, right? … Continue reading The Shopping Fast – I Did Not Learn to Crochet
A fearless inventory In September of this year (2024), I took an unflinching inventory of my clothing and makeup supplies. I had a lot of things to count. When I was done, I was horrified to discover that I seemed to have almost all the stuff. No wonder I felt like I had clutter. I do. I’ve spent much of my life trying to organize, … Continue reading My Shopping Fast – an update.
1 – Shopping abstinence I have too much stuff. Most of us do – it’s a requirement of the age. Think of our economies as Great White sharks. If they stop swimming, they die. Our version of capitalism runs similarly; for “swimming” substitute “buying.” [1] I don’t love it. I don’t love the mountains of stuff that clutter my life. I don’t love the generalized … Continue reading No more non-essential shopping.
We’re not so tolerant of people choosing to do things differently than we would, especially when it comes to minutiae. We sweat the small stuff. We can manage peaceful coexistence when it comes to the bigger issues – conservative or liberal, religious or atheist, Pepsi or Coke: when it comes to these things, most of the time we agree to disagree. Yes, there are wars … Continue reading We get offended: Our pet peeves are important to us.
From Famine to Feast. 