Consumption

for the sake of less consumption?

During the winter break I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a large (green) Rubbermaid container. Earlier in the fall I came up with the idea of "packing my life into a box." This was the beginning of when the possibility that I may somehow miraculously end of leaving town for school had a possibility of prevailing. Packing my life away in the box was my way of trying to make this notion more realistic, to push for it little by little for myself. (My parents thinks the box is just for me to store everyday things in).

So I did end up buying the box and packed away what I guess must be my most prized possessions. When I finished packing I was surprised that it was only half full. Most of it consists of school pictures and my personal photo albums. Of course I couldn't pack everything that I valued in it. Afterall, I still have to live in my room/house for at least another 8 months. More importantly I was afraid that if I was to pack it really as though I would leave the next day I might be disappointed. I was afraid to have to experience UNPACKING everything because I did not get accepted into an out of town university or if my parents simply would not letting me leave.

The original idea for the box was half for the purposes of a time capsule and half getting ready to leave. If I was to leave home for school I would like to "leave" everything behind. (My dear friends, please don't take this the wrong way, I basically referring to materialistic things...) I don't expect my family to kind of lock up my bedroom and open it up again in April when I come back for the summer. I also KNOW that they will "clean" my stuff up for me, probably throw things out on my behalf and dump their stuff into my space while I'm gone for their various conveniences. When I leave I want to be able to say, "Mom, everything in my room you can do as you wish with it...just don't touch or open this box." Obviously, the box contains private mementos from my teenage years... It can literally continue sitting in that corner of my room. Haha.. I actually thought of putting tape on it and signing the seal so I would for sure know if it's been open!

Having everything that is important to you in one place has its benefits and fallbacks. If I ever had to escape my house due to an emergency I would be able to grab that box and run out the door. On the other hand, if I lose that one box I would lose everything.

I am a pack rat and also an anti-pack rat. I like keeping certain things: I have all my notes from my high school years. I probably have valentines day cards from classmates from middle school if I looked hard enough. I have on my dresser shelf ticket subs from school plays and other concerts I've attended. However, everything so often I need to cleanse my space. I clean my room and try to throw out as much things as possible. Just "having trash" to clean out frustrates me sometimes. After packing the box there were obviously a lot of things that I'm still keeping, but didn't qualify for the box. Thus, I went into "consumption mode" for the rest of the year. I vowed to not urchase ANYTHING else until I finish everything that is consumable first. With other things I started considering people I can give it to (i.e my books to my cousins) or selling it (thus, my earring entrepreneurial venture).

CLOTHES are the worst! I made a promise to myself at the end of the summer to not purchase a SINGLE article of clothing till the end of the year and I guess I succeeded. On Boxing Day I kind of splurged though... There were definitely temptations along the way, but knowing I didn't make ANOTHER unnecessary purchase made myself feel good. Clothes is like an epidemic in the Western world I think. Walking through the Eaton Center I think: really?! People need this much clothes?! People no longer wear clothes to cover their skin or to keep warm. It's about "keeping up" with the ridiculously paced fashion industry. I think I might write another blog at a later date about this, after what I've learned while doing economic research for my essay. Yes, sometimes I despise clothes...especially when I'm folding it and trying to fit it all into my closet(s), but just during the March Break I brought this cute black dress for NO GOOD REASON! It's more of a personal thing. The guilt of throwing out a perfectly functional article of clothing is just...a bit much? But, I know I would not be wearing it out anytime soon in essence have to need for it...

Now that moving out seems substantially bit more realistic I've noticed that I have not been making adequate efforts to consume! The thought of putting things in order and cleaning out those old lingering goods, thoughts and intentions feels good my friend.

Every second can be a new beginning, if you choose to make it.
Lets cheers to that.

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The dictionary.com word of the day:

slake

\SLAYK\ , verb;

1.

To satisfy; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst.

2.

To cause to lessen; to make less active or intense; to moderate; as, slaking his anger.

3.

To cause (as lime) to heat and crumble by treatment with water.