Someone asked me on Friday what I would do when the 365 days were gone. Would I stop pruning out things?
Well, yes and no. I hope by the end of the year I will have got my possessions down to so calmed a state that I am happy with Things As They Are. But I like the idea of continuing the one-thing-in-two-things-out principle, not least because it should act as a powerful brake on my bad habit of acquiring things!
But it sank in today that this is a leap year. So there are 366 days not 365. That feels auspicious. I will have to think of something for the 366th day, the Threshold of New.
Meanwhile I am very interested in and impressed by Maria’s challenge for 2012 – she’s having a whole no-spend year, buying only toiletries and food! Having reviewed what I have managed to acquire in the first month of the year alone (though I did faithfully part with two items for every one I acquired), I am even more impressed at what Maria is doing. I’ve decided to join her through Lent, which runs from February 22nd to April 8th.
And, during the night the snow fell here on the southern coast of England.
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A tealight. Sigh. Some of the things I have got rid of are very small, I admit. But again, this small tealight actually represents a whole category of things – items that get put back in the drawer half used, always passed over in favour of a newer, more effective version of the same thing – but never thrown away. I know why I still had this tealight after a very long time. Once they are part-burned you can never be sure if they will light again successfully and burn all the way down without giving up the ghost. Tealights are better just lit and left alone. Out of fear of burning the house down I don’t always do that though (I don’t want to see the moon more clearly that much). “WHAT IF ?” is etched deep upon my psyche. I often come to my stash of nightlights in a bit of a hurry; wanting to make the house pretty for guests, while the soup is cooking I dash up to the garret to grab a handful of tealights for the Moroccan lanterns and Bernard’s celtic cross in the porch and the candelabra Susanna gave us. I leave behind any that are half-burned, because I know I want these actually alight. So as part of 365 I went through methodically and actually chose the dodgy ones, so they would be used up; otherwise really they’re only clutter in the drawer.
Ho, ho, I know what you mean about the partially used tea light collection. It's a bit like putting the used matches back in the box. Especially those long 'cooks' matches which I always think can be reused...
ReplyDeleteFor me the decluttering is an ongoing process. Now I am getting rid of things that escaped previous trawls. But their time has come to be released.
Now I find it easier to do as I go along. If I open a drawer for one thing and spot something I can get rid of it goes there and then.
And better at throwing out the old thing when I replace it.
And not bringing more stuff in. As long as I stay out of the charity shops :)
My mug cupboard is starting to overflow again. I like to buy a mug as a souvenir when I go on holiday. But I have decided that the limit to the collection is the size of the cupboard.
At least it will give me an excuse to get rid of a few that I don't really like but didn't feel able to get rid of in the last clear out.
Yes - I am having a similar experience; and realising that the less I have the more aware I am of what I do have and if I need it or not. I notice things more once the level is reduced.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what you said about staying out of the charity shops - I have cherished a piece of advice Alvin Hall gave on his fab money management programmes about 10 years ago; a simple thing. "Stay away from the High Street." It never ceases to amaze me how I can go out feeling perfectly content, needing nothing, my life complete - and within twenty minutes I've spotted something I never even knew existed before, that has suddenly become indispensible!
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend for mentioning my humble challenge here :-) I must share that the temptation to buy is so strong sometimes, that I have to literally leave the store completely and get in the car and sit for awhile until I have prayed over the temptation!
ReplyDeleteRight now starting month two, I am truly focused on not buying anything for my wardrobe. Not thrift stores, no books stores, nothing that will break my focus.
In fact, I am giving away fabric this week in the blog as a way of truly letting go of things that are keeping me from this plain and simple life My Lord is guiding me towards.
I know that you are no longer plain Ember, but I am being guided strongly mind you, to this way of living. My clothes, oh that outward appearance is just so distracting. So back to the simple clothes of one color. No adornment except His Love that should be seen instead of my fashion sense :-)
Oh my, I could keep writing, but I'll leave that for the letter ;-D
Be blessed and thank you again for your hand of friendship,
Maria
:0) Good to hear from you, friend. It sounds like things are not easy. Thinking of you and holding you in the Light. x
ReplyDelete