January 31....

Today is the last day of January...effectively, the day before 'the big day'...I have removed credit cards from my wallet (a small precautionary measure). This move alone fills me with a small sense of panic. I mean, what if I am out and about and suddenly 'need' something?? Or, what if there is some sort of emergency that absolutely necessitates a credit card transaction to save the day?? Suffice it to say that I am working on psyching myself up mentally for this next three months. Today I am observing, with a small dose of amusement, how I am mentally going through a checklist of 'stuff' that perhaps I 'need' and should therefore rush out and buy today, since as of tomorrow that will be a no-no....ah the tangled webs we weave....


Anyway, last night I did a google search to see how many other people out there may be doing the same thing as I am. Guess what? There are plenty. It seems I am not alone; nor am I on the 'cutting edge' of enlightened though (but I think I knew that already). This is a good thing. The more people that are sick of all of this consumption, the more the momentum to not mindlessly consume as much will build.



Switching to the practicalities of what I am doing, allow me to tell you about the 'rules and restrictions' that I am planning on following for the next three months. Many of my friends have inquired about what exactly 'stuff' refers to. One very concerned friend asked me if this ban included alcohol (ha ha)...no, it doesn't...but I don't drink much anyway, so it is not really an issue for me. By 'stuff' I am referring to all non-consumables (e.g. clothes, shoes, furnishings, housewares like dishes, etc.) and items that are consumable but are not absolutely necessary (e.g. shampoo, soap, deodorant, lipstick, etc.). The other thing I want to include here is downloadable music that I have to pay for (a-hem...I am sure we ALL pay for our downloaded music, right?). If I desperately want to add to the collection of 2867 songs already on my iPod, I will need to find 'alternate means'. But I am going to try to stay away from accumulating more music. So what is allowed? Food products are a go. Fuel for my car is a go. Pet food and treats are a go. Entertainment and gym memberships, etc., are a go. Even gifts for others are a go. And my monthly audio book download (which I DO pay for) will continue to be a go. A small pleasure. I think you get the picture. Basically, as I said in my last post, this is a personal challenge, the point of which is to see how it feels to try to be satisfied with less...or rather, with what already IS.