DAY 13: NMS CHALLENGE SIX MONTHS ON…

Hi Friends,

As I write, the birds are happily chirping on the trees outside. I think they are telling me they are looking forward to seeing me back walking again lol! The aroma of fresh coffee is brewing, and the early morning sun is gloriously streaming through my windows, carrying with it the promise of a lovely day. Coco is giving me the look of love and God is smiling down from Heaven too, telling me everything is going to be A OK. You gotta believe.

On October 8th, 2019, I began my NO MORE STUFF challenge. The months have flown by so quickly. Hopefully the COVID -19 craziness will fly by just as quickly!!

Six months into my No More Stuff challenge and I have succeeded in not buying one single item of unnecessary stuff — no clothing, shoes, bags, bling, scarves, ornaments, seasonal decorations — Nothing!  By the way, DOG stuff doesn’t count! Only me stuff!

I’ve had time to reflect on what I am learning from this unique experience. I do believe that Saturn/Pluto conjunction, bringing transformation, was already starting to kick in, in so much as I wanted to change aspects about my life that I felt a certain discomfort with. The seed sensation of having so much, while others had so little, was planted when I began volunteering at the Homeless Shelter a few years ago. Seriously! I would come come to my luxury and feel a ‘survivor’s guilt’. How was I so lucky, and not them? Was I a Saint in a past life? These were questions I would ask myself, not wanting them answered, for fear of even more guilt!

Other questions were ‘Oh dear, did I never take the price tag off you?’ or ‘Hey Ms. blouse, how come I have never seen you here before?’ or even worse! “Oh drat, I just bought a green top and I didn’t need to because you were here hiding all along!’ Probably common questions asked by a hoarder! Having bulging closets and not knowing what to wear was a paradox! A self-created gluttonous paradox which had to change — for the better! Bargains are not bargains if you don’t need the stuff. Just because something is slashed 75% off doesn’t mean it has to occupy my space. I’m learning…

That was then…this is now… 6 months later!

Social Isolation apart, not shopping, I have oodles more time on my hands! Remember, I have been doing this NMS challenge for six months now. The social isolation thing only started a month ago. I never realized how much time I spent shopping. That was an eye-opener for me! The other thing I have noticed is that I enjoy my clothes more now and love the challenge of mixing and matching stuff and being more creative with what I have.

Six months done and six to go! Here’s to happy days as I continue my journey into the unknown…I cannot believe how changing my mindset about shopping has altered the way I think about a lot of things! I actually believe it also helped me stay off chocolate and sweets for the past 40 days of Lent too. It’s all good and I’m feeling pretty delighted at how the challenge is going!

Be the change you want to see!

Hugs from my home to yours!
Patricia xxx