Day 154
“So, is this something you just decided to do, or is there a group doing it…um…I mean, uh, did you hear about it somewhere?”, the other mom volunteering at our school’s field day questioned from behind a smiling mask of slight confusion, and maybe a little revulsion after I gave her the quickie Simple Year elevator speech.
So, I replied in my cheeriest voice, “Well it’s funny you ask because….” And then some kid came up and wanted his shoe tied and that was the end of that conversation.
So, I’ll tell you.
I came up with this concept on my own. As I have said before, I hypothesized we could reduce our footprint, live simply, and learn some valuable lessons all while maintaining the same quality of life. Aren’t I clever inventing such a novel concept?
EXCEPT IT WASN’T
After starting this project and committing to writing three times a week about it (even when I’d rather be watching Burn Notice or Pawn Stars); I realized there are thousands and thousands of people that have practiced some version of not buying or simplifying.
There is a woman that hasn’t bought anything new in FIVE years- are you kidding me? Five Years? She has a blog and a Facebook group called the Non Consumer Advocate Group with over 2,900 people that in some form or fashion don’t buy crap, uh, things. There is a Yahoo Group called The Compact with over 10,000 members who have all pledged to buy nothing new for a year. It has been in existence since 2006, I’m unclear if they have been recycling the same people for the past six years or they get new Compactees each year. There are minimalist sites with a hundred thousand like-minded readers, people that live in houses the size of toll booths, families of four that only generate a handful of trash each year, and someone that lives in a hut and hasn’t used toilet paper in the last two decades.
For a while it was freaking me out, because they all seem to be doing it better than me. Except for the toilet paper people, I’m OK not entering that field of play. But, after I got over my initial self-doubt, I started to reach out to these groups and individuals and suddenly I had a peer group, of sorts, and as a result quite a few people started to read my story and offer all manner of kind words. So even though we are a group of less than one tenth of one percent of the global population, there are still a group of us. (I made that statistic up, it just sounded good, you probably shouldn’t quote me)
The goal of this blog isn’t to TELL anybody what to do, give you instruction or set any parameters. There are other avenues for that. It is merely to relate my story, which is hopefully somewhere between toilet paper guy and the New Yorkers that spent $250,000 on their dog’s wedding last summer.
But, I will say this (and then shut up about it). You might be reading this because you find me amusing, like say, a circus side show. I’m good with that. But, if you are reading this because you have been tossing around the idea of reducing your consumption in some fashion, I assure you, it can be done (at least for five months, I don’t want to get ahead of myself for the next seven).
Maybe your project is different, not cold turkey for a year– maybe a month? Or perhaps you decide you are going to get all of your books from the library this year instead of buying. Or maybe it is as simple as “getting by” with something you already own. (Can we say freakin’ frackin’ grumble, grumble- IPhone 5?).
Hey, we can always commiserate.
On an unrelated note, you may notice I changed the format for the blog. Mainly because people, and by people, I mean the 4th grade carpool crowd, thought the dark background made it hard to read on mobile devices. I agreed with them.
I think everyone has to find their own definition of minimalism and or make choices of how to lower their impact on the environment. There is always someone who does it “better” but is that what I want my story to be? My goal has been to reduce the amount of stuff we have in our home for my own sanity’s sake. Less stuff = less cleaning in my book! When people come to visit I hear statements such as “wow, you don’t seem to like artwork” or “your house is so…clean and spacious”. It makes me chuckle a bit! I don’t shove my choices anyone’s face but answer questions if they ask “why”. I enjoy reading your story and seeing the challenges and successes you are experiencing. Keep up the great work!
I do my best to not come across as a preachy minimalist. I put it all out there — what I’ve done, why it makes me feel better about life, tips for you to follow if you want to do the same thing, etc. But I know everyone’s different. I worried about getting a second cat because it didn’t seem “minimalist” and then I realized how silly that was. My minimalism is different from everyone else’s but it’s still my minimalism. 🙂 Carry on! I like reading your blog because it’s really funny and very real-world. I’m inspired! I might do a buy-nothing month.
Can’t wait to hear about the “buy nothing” month 🙂
It is funny that you mention the library as a way to minimize. I had made that decision this year (not realizing it would send me on the path to minimalism) to try and reduce the number of books (that kept piling up without being read!). Now if I read a book I already have, I pass it to someone else and if there is a book that I want to read, I put myself on the waitlist at the library. I am so amazed at how freeing it has made me feel!
On a side note, I hope you decide to continue your quest for a few more years… I will really miss your blog! 🙂
Is there anything better than that email from the library that says your book is ready? I often have several I am waiting for, so it is like a great surprise when I open the email. We often wait for videos as well, my kids just saw Mary Poppins and ET that way.
Just came across your blog and have enjoyed it. We are all different with different priorities, I like reading about other folks ideas and have tried incorporating some of them, except I am not giving up toilet paper. My son freaked out when he realized that I was getting rid of things I no longer needed, but now realizes that this will be less for him to go through when I leave this earth. I am still working at it and am trying to make do with what I have and if I do buy something, I try to get rid of something I no longer need. The home is easier to clean and keep up and I am finding more time for reading and other fun things instead of being chained to taking care of so much stuff. It is hard to believe that I had the mindset to get so much stuff, only to be shedding them. I am an older person(50ish) and thought this was a trait of getting older, but I am pleasantly surprised to see younger folks embracing this. It has been a freeing experience for me. Good luck with your endeavor!
Here’s to more time free for fun things! Thanks for the note and continued good luck to you as well.
a dog’s wedding???!!! Really!?
And, I love the library.
So I just started following your blog & yes I think you are very funny not in a circus sort of way, but it a funny real life sort of way. : )
So I started reading about minimalism recently after a job change. This change was by choice to go back to doing what I am really passionate about, the change freed up a lot of time & I had the brilliant opportunity to spend as many at 3 days a week at the beach. Returning home after being out in nature all morning had me reflecting on the idea that I wanted to start doing more activities & that if I did more I would be home less & needed less.
Growing up in a border line hoarded home. My husband & I after minimal discussion (no pun intended) have been diligently purging. What an amazing feeling.
I have donated more books& DVDs to the library & a ton of clothes to goodwill. What an exhilarating experience. We are still in the process of letting go of a lot.
Although we are still making purchases, it’s just the basics. 🙂
I thank you for you contributing your thoughts & experiences to the world. It’s nice to see someone doing the best they can for their family & posting their thoughts on this life change.
Wishing you much success,
This is great, I am kind of on my own little trip with not buying clothes for a year and that has filtered into other facets of my life. I live in England where there is little storage space anyways but now I am thinking its a blessing. More storage or less stuff? Less stuff me thinks 🙂
I read because I can relate to a lot of what you say, but you say it in a funny way. I am sort of an organized hoarder if there is such a thing. Being a teacher, I found that every time I threw away a toilet paper roll, I needed a classroom set of 20. I know I could ask for them, but I needed the control to have what I need when I need it. I love to shop secondhand, the scratches in my furniture show past love, plus my dogs would just make them anyway. Also the old furniture is made so much better. Can you say, real wood.
It’s a challenge for us to see our odometer roll over to 200,000 miles, we’ve done that twice…even putting in new engines so we wouldn’t have to buy a new car. My downfall is fabric and yarn and art supplies. I am retiring soon so will have to be a minimalist and use what I have. My goal is to clean out the basement, but everytime I pick up a Lego, I think I might some day have grandkids.
Grandkids! I’m still buying picture books (I like them) and my kids aren’t even married yet!