Something
that has happened to me quite a lot on my simplicity journey, is thinking I
need kit to accomplish something – only to discover it’s unnecessary once I’ve
got it.
This
feels frustrating, because though I try hard to find the cheapest way of doing
things, and search out the cheapest versions of what’s on offer, I do still end
up spending money unwisely with this recurring mistake.
And
although I’ve made the mistake in the past, each new time I can’t see it
coming.
I
think it happens because some of the courses of action I choose in pursuit of
simplicity are somewhat counter-culture, and I don’t personally know anyone
else doing them, so I have to figure out my own solutions without a model to
follow. And there’s a psychological component too; doing what no one else is
doing (and may find weird or silly) feels hard, so I gather kit around me where
what I really needed was resolve.
I’ve
just bought four items I completely don’t need. I’ve even tried to pretend to
myself that I do need them for different purposes because I feel embarrassed
about wasting the money. Altogether they still come to less than twenty pounds,
but even so.
I’d
like to think I’m learning and honing my skills at simplicity, but I have to
say the evidence isn’t out there yet.
I
guess it’s a sort of stupidity tax.
Sigh.
10 comments:
oh, pen, you are not alone. how many times have i done exactly what you describe? too many to count. simplicity is a one-day-at-a-time adventure for me. reading dorothy day helps keep me on track though. she is quite brisk when it comes to the main reason that we are seeking a simple (voluntary poverty?) life . . . so that we can share Christ's love and our resources with our brothers and sisters in need. that's really what it comes down to.
Oh, Lord - Dorothy Day! Her goodness alone makes me nervous! She was such a holy, committed, honest, self-disciplined woman. Even the thought of her makes me shrivel with shame and turn to chocolate in total desperation! But, thank you for your kindness xxx
Oh Pen I feel for you. I do this all the time. Right now I crave time away from my family and my mess. God bless.
Hi Pen
Just wanted to say thank you for the headwraps! Love them, and have have been very busy experimenting. Really is very kind of you.
Love
Gem
Oh, perfect simplicity requires chocolate, thee knows.
Hi Suzan - glad to know it's a problem shared by others! xx
Gem - pleased they got there safely - have fun! xx
Paula - that's GOOD news! xx
It is sorta like buying containers to contain stuff. Counterproductive, right? I was so well on my way
When I remarried almost three years ago. Then, my new husband found out that I play piano and
Insisted that I have a piano. Well, I don't play anymore and now I have this piano. I can't get rid of
It......then it looks lonely without family pictures on top of it.....and a scarf under them so as to not
scratch it..........
Sad unavoidables........
'Unavoidables'. Ah. Yes. I know exactly what you mean! xx
This rang a bell. I am very guilty of buying kit for a life I never lead. For example, knitting, crochet and embroidery stuff. I have more kit than one person could ever use.
At the moment I am working on not acquiring more but using the stuff I have got.
I have a shelf full of language learning books. Not to mention the audio stuff and the stuff in the computer. If I learnt all the language in one of these books I might be able to speak it!
Oh, yes - for a while we had a build-up of books to learn how to speak one or two of the Indian languages. We felt guilty about moving them on when it became painfully clear we never were actually going to apply ourselves to this.
:0\
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