Day 151
What are necessities? Now, I know there are all kinds of minimalists out there that manage to live very full lives with only a few possessions, like say a laptop computer, a spoon and a maybe a sarong. They probably get their exercise by running barefoot–year round–over hot coals (Does Tony Robbins advocate minimalism). I’m a little less committed than that, my list of necessary items is a bit longer even during this year of buying nothing new.
Case in point
I still yearn for cute new workout clothes and fancy gadgets, which at one time, I did consider necessary to my athletic performance.
Remember getting new sneakers as a kid? There was no doubt in my mind that those new kicks made me run like Carl Lewis (Am I dating myself?), dance like Janet Jackson and jump like, uh, someone really good at jumping. My kids will put on a new pair of shoes and instantly start running around the store. Why is that? It’s like a hardwired response. Prior to The Simple Year, I felt the same way about a really cute exercise ensemble. The very act of tugging on the top made me stronger, more flexible and faster. In reality, I’m sure I had the same athletic ability as the day prior, but maybe the placebo effect caused me to work a little harder in my new finery.
Perhaps the knowledge that there will be no new Lycra in my locker this year has heightened my awareness of an interesting phenomenon. There are all kinds of “specialty items” showing up for various athletic pursuits these days. I guess it’s not enough to sweat anymore, now you have to sweat appropriately accessorized.
The Zumba crowd all wear sashes or genie pants in bright colors reminiscent of my 80’s wardrobe often with bells dangling from them which you can’t hear over the Latino inspired music.
Anytime the doors open for a spin class a whole herd of people come clomping in wearing shoes with toe clips. As I understand it, toe clips are to improve performance and decrease the likelihood that the cyclist will fall off into a ravine which really isn’t an issue indoors and “performance” can pretty much be regulated by that nasty red knob that controls the tension.
I often go to a combat class where a group of (mainly) women punch, kick and jab at unseen enemies and the instructor calls everyone “fighters”. It makes me feel strong and empowered, although in all honesty, my only actual fighting is with my kids to do their homework before TV. Many of the women wear gloves even though they don’t actually come into contact with anything.
Gloves to fell imaginary enemies and keep ones manicure secure
I run a little. In theory, I should just need shoes. Although, I won’t leave the house without my IPod in its special neoprene case, my preferred water bottle and the correct pants, the ones that minimize my thighs from slapping together in time to the music on that IPod. All this gear (gathered Before Simple Year) and I still enviously followed a woman the other day wearing a specialized running jacket with pockets designed for music and water. I should probably point out I followed her on a running trail, not because I was going to roll her for her clothes. She was smaller than me anyway, her clothes wouldn’t have fit.
I am working my way through it. But, I can’t help it, even though I know they are not really necessary maybe even superfluous, I still long for cycling shoes, fighter’s gloves and running jackets.
But definitely, not pants with bells
A good policy I live by is to not buy “the gear” for a new endeavor until you’re well established in the habit. I won’t buy new running pants, for example, until I’ve been running for a month. I won’t buy a sewing machine until I’ve done a number of projects with a borrowed one. And so on… it keeps me accountable and not buying stuff that won’t *make* me into a jogger or a yoga-er or a seamstress. I get by on what I have until I know it’s worth the investment on gear.
I also try and keep my phone/music away while I walk in the woods so I can use that time for just being with myself. Might be too hippie for you though, haha!
I love following your blog, it gives me great ideas for getting by with what I already have!
Caitlin- I also like to hike music free, but I use music for my runs to keep my mind off the fact that I’m MISERABLE and GASPING for air 🙂 Thanks for the kind words.
I love following your blog – and I think Caitlin’s idea of not buying “the gear” until you are established makes a lot of sense.
Being a non-consumer is hard. We’ve been trained to want. Thanks, advertisers! I try to remember that whatever it is I’m craving won’t make me any happier in the long run (although seriously, new shoes are the best) and that what I already have is more than adequate. Not that THAT always helps. Reading blogs like this one? Helps! 🙂
Also: I’m staying the heck out of the stores. I am too weak to be trusted.
I’m glad reading blogs like this help…maybe strength in numbers? I’ve been happy to “meet” quite a few like minded people via this blog.
Definitely strength in numbers! It’s an uphill battle with myself sometimes, let alone with the fam. Non-consumer and minimalist blogs help me remember what I’m trying to do. And it sounds dumb, but I can think, “Oh, well, Kerry would understand” (and Tammy at Rowdy Kittens or Katy at the Non-Consumer Advocate) when I’m trying to explain to my 7-year-old why we’re not buying anything at the school book fair even if she cleans her bookshelf or my 13-year-old why another t-shirt isn’t going to open up her options any more than the ten she already has. Or, who am I kidding, myself when I’m pretty sure I could really use XYZ. (Thankfully my husband is naturally a low-consumer kind of person, so I always have backup.)
So yes, it helps “knowing” like-minded people! What did we do before the internets?!
The advice above is fantastic, but I am still laughing at the post! And I want new running toys after running for two weeks…DH was astounded today when I told him we are practicing radical simplicity in our purchases at the moment…apparently we have so much stuff he can’t tell – oops!
i am alive, so there is something i want.
i just need to sit with it for awhile.
i like the comment about doing something for a bit, before buying the paraphanalia and gadgets. i enjoy your writting
regards eema
I’d run in rags down any trail with you, friend!
I keep trying to talk myself in to getting a FitBit. Pedometer, sleep tracker, and it even connects to my phone and Endomondo via Bluetooth. Totally unnecessary, but I so want one.
Ooooh, I have never heard of those, but the name alone makes me want one 🙂
Well, I have boxing gloves, but in my combat class we actually get to hit the heavy bags and let me tell you, I am not cut out to be a bare-knuckle fighter, it turns out.
As for the fancy workout clothes: I’ve got no desire to spend tons of money on clothes I’m just going to sweat all over. I like to get 99-cent t-shirts at the thrift store and cut the sleeves and collar off. Stylish!
I have specific kit for horse riding, but the t-shirts for riding are also used for yoga, running and any other potentially sweaty activity.
There is something about new kit though…and a new kit or gadget seems to make me more motivated for a while..