A few weeks ago I was talking to Chuckles about a gorgeous Fossil handbag that I saw while on a trip to a department store and I began expounding its many positive qualities while consciously steering the monologue to a place where he would say, ''Get it if you want to.'' Then I would innocently say, ''You think so? Fine I will pick it up over the weekend.'' That did not go as planned. It was either bad timing or worse karma.
Chuckles had been reading all about minimalism lately and sprung a surprise on me. He saw where I was going and steered the conversation instead, towards consumerism, over consumption, hoarding and how society was suffocating under the weight of unnecessary purchases. Yes, one handbag was going to end society as we know it.
Moving to the US from Germany meant making a list of everything we owned. Everything. From how many spoons, to how many pairs of socks. From the number of iPods between the two of us to how many CDs and books. Staying in Houston for 15 months has doubled our possessions and I squarely blame the sales for that. They called out to me and I followed and eventually succumbed to their wily ways. But then I started reading this, this and this.
Imagine being able to live in a world, in your world with just 100 possessions. Doesn't that sound liberating? No rules on how you group your things, but just limit them to a 100. Do you think you can do it?
A few days later my car drove itself to my favourite store. I walked around and saw this. I stopped to think instead of greedily piling it into my shopping basket. Am I buying the most gorgeous bowl in the world or contributing to the downfall of society? Needless to say, faced with that much pressure I turned around and walked out of the store.
Chuckles had been reading all about minimalism lately and sprung a surprise on me. He saw where I was going and steered the conversation instead, towards consumerism, over consumption, hoarding and how society was suffocating under the weight of unnecessary purchases. Yes, one handbag was going to end society as we know it.
Moving to the US from Germany meant making a list of everything we owned. Everything. From how many spoons, to how many pairs of socks. From the number of iPods between the two of us to how many CDs and books. Staying in Houston for 15 months has doubled our possessions and I squarely blame the sales for that. They called out to me and I followed and eventually succumbed to their wily ways. But then I started reading this, this and this.
Imagine being able to live in a world, in your world with just 100 possessions. Doesn't that sound liberating? No rules on how you group your things, but just limit them to a 100. Do you think you can do it?
A few days later my car drove itself to my favourite store. I walked around and saw this. I stopped to think instead of greedily piling it into my shopping basket. Am I buying the most gorgeous bowl in the world or contributing to the downfall of society? Needless to say, faced with that much pressure I turned around and walked out of the store.
2 comments:
The US is great for shopping.Oh, the sales can drive you nuts here!
I've discovered I'm a minimalist though.. this eye popping variety and tons of sales makes my eyes glaze over! Can't handle the choices and therefore I don't buy as much.
It will be interesting to see where I am in 15 months though :)
Hey Geetlee!
Good to hear from you. We said the same thing last year but come Black Friday and we were following the mob. Even waking up early to hit the sales. We definitely won't this year though. How goes it in the bay area?
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