MONDAY MUSINGS: NMS CHALLENGE – 40 DAYS ON!

Hi Guys,

How was your weekend? Did you go to any Christmas Fairs? Every weekend now leading up to Christmas, there are several Church Bazaars, Christmas Craft Fairs, etc. Temptation is all around!! Hell to the NO!! I don’t want to end up like the poor unfortunate hoarder lady in the picture above. How sad is that? Today marks 40 days on my No More Stuff Challenge for a whole year! So far, so great, but I must admit, coming up to Christmas it’s not going to be easy, which is why I have a game plan to get over the Christmas ‘Bump’.

I avoid triggers now, such as Craft Fairs, Shops, etc. The only exception being my face creams, lotions, and potions. Hell to the YES on those! I have made my Shopping LIst for friends and loved ones. This Christmas, I will make my annual Chocolate Almond Rocca for friends and put it in a cute Christmas tin, complete with bells. For close friends, I’ll also give them a gift card for someplace ‘useful’ like Starbucks or a Cinema card. Being very practical, and knowing people are not comfortable around ‘Saints!’ I said if they insist, they can give me a gift card for someplace ‘useful’ too – an experience. No more clothes, bling, shoes, bags, stuff – for a year! I am So determined to see how long I can go with this and to get more use from my existing clothes, etc. I have planned my Christmas Glamour outfits and I’m all ready now to Rock ‘n Roll!! I do have one annual party where we do a gift exchange. Whatever I get, I’ll donate or re-gift. How smart is that!!

To make Christmas great this year d.v. I need to use my imagination more and plan ahead! I’m going to do a fun Christmas Party at the Homeless Shelter for my Bingo Buddies, and give them all a very special Christmas box with ‘useful’ treats and a little gift card. What joy and fun that will be! In addition, I have re-joined the Legion of Mary, a group which was actually founded in Ireland for the purpose of charity work. At the meeting last night, one of the ladies gave me a beautiful present of rosary beads, medal, etc. She got them in the Philippines for me. I had given her ones from Ireland several months ago, and now she wanted to re-pay my kindness to her. How sweet of her!

Technically speaking, it’s ‘stuff’, but spiritually, it’s what I call ‘Work Stuff’ for the Legion. I pray on the beads and wear the medal to strengthen my commitment – so no, I wasn’t going to tell this well-intentioned woman ‘No More Stuff!’ Besides, these I will use – with Peace and Love!

In the Legion, we honour the immaculate heart of Mary, and promise to perform works of mercy, such as helping the aged, work in the soup kitchen, visit the homebound, pray for Prisoners, reach out to those in need. The ‘sisterhood’ as I call them are all about ‘Girl Power!’ I was at the meeting last night, and by Golly these women walk the talk!! Mother Mary cracks the whip when it comes to stepping up to the plate, and actually going out and doing it! Not easy! But I cannot argue that the work is vital if I truly want to be the change I want to see in this World. It requires iron discipline and dedication. Mother Teresa would totally approve!! Besides, it takes my mind off STUFF!! Hip hip hooray for that!!

I’ll keep you posted on my NMS Challenge!

Hugs,

Patricia xxx