No shopping for Lent week 2 reflections

Thanks to everyone who has posted thoughtful and interesting things on my previous post. I wasn't sure whether I should continue there or start a new post. It's been interesting continuing this practice - the first few days are always easier, aren't they? Then it becomes more of a struggle, until it truly becomes a habit. What's surprised me is how much browsing of items I do unconsciously as part of my everyday life - looking through catalogs that came in the mail while I'm waiting for my coffee to brew, taking a few minutes to walk through a store when I'm early for an appointment, rewarding myself with a trip to the thrift store... and that's not even starting on the topic of the Internet. Should I stop reading style blogs for the interim, or Angie's posts on particular items (as opposed to trends or something more general)? So far I've not but I'm still thinking about how to approach it. Not going to the mall is pretty straightforward, but avoiding advertising is nearly impossible.

On the remixing and WIW front, it's been really interesting, especially as I just swapped out my winter items for spring. I have definitely chosen some combinations I had never thought of before, and stretched my comfort zone a little - and filled up several bags for donation of items that aren't quite right for one reason or another. Every creative person knows that constraints can actually help you be creative, not the opposite, and so far this has been true (if more time-consuming).

It's also about abundance for me, and being happy with what I have and enjoying it fully, rather than always grasping for new and different. This has also come up for me recently relating to my living space; I have been wishing for a different situation for a long time, but recent events have reminded me that I'm truly fortunate with what I have right now. I'm trying to learn how to both be OK with with I have but still be honest about what I want in the future.

(Side note: I'm actually not particularly religious these days, but I've always liked Lent and its rituals - I find the spring a good time to change patterns and think about what's truly important to me, rather than the usual New Year's Resolutions, which come at a post-holiday time when I'm overwhelmed and all I want to do is hibernate. I think you can call it Lenten practice, or call it pre-spring-equinox reflection, or whatever you want; the important thing is to reexamine the assumptions you live your life with, should you choose to.)

14 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I have always really liked Lent too. I was also very drawn to Advent over Christmas. I find both Seasons very calming and introspective ....a preparation and understanding of oneself for the world we muck around in. With that said, I admire you greatly for this. I am participating, following in your idea. Though I did not have much time for reflection, I have done a lot of cleaning out. I cleaned out a couple of closets and bags. I just don't want so much stuff. I realized it was causing me anxiety to look in my misc. closet and not know what was in there. When I got done cleaning it, it was for a whole other life. I just don't want to be distracted. Like you, I want to feel and recognize the abundance around me.

I also want to simplify and be kinder to the Earth. So I got rid of household cleaners that I have been hanging onto and pared down to essentials : baking soda, vinegar, and castile soap ( OK - I still have non-toxic toilet bowl cleaner, too ! )

See ya next week !

Mellllls

Im enjoying hearing you thoughts on this. By not reading fashion blogs etc., are you trying to avoid temptation?

PalmFronds

Active Member

wow I miss so much when I am off the forum!
Congrats making it to the second week I too have given up shopping for Lent. I am not Catholic but am Christian. For the past three year I have chosen to give up shopping over Lent because, for me, it is the most enjoyable but unnecessary thing in my life. I love shopping for many reasons, so giving it up it always difficult when I do it. I try on various occassions throughout the year to go on a "shopping fast" but to be honest the only time it truly "takes" is during Lent. And while I end up complaining from time to time, I appreciate the focus it gives me. Last year though I had to stay off fashion blogs for almost all of Lent in order to make it easier for myself!
This year, like last year, I am also giving up desserts. So it s doubly tough!
hang in there--it is a great exercise for many reasons, and I think worth the effort.

Sara L.

I always give up soda during Lent. It's my one guilty pleasure that is truly unhealthy (I don't like the diet versions, only the full-sugar ones). A shopping fast sounds interesting and certainly fits with the theme of the Lenten season. When I don't want to be tempted to shop, I throw catalogs away before reading them. I don't even open them up - why tempt myself? Fashion blogs don't tempt me as much because I look at them for inspiration on how to wear the clothes I have and not for stuff to shop for.

Anonymous

I really enjoyed your post, and thank you for sharing the thoughts that are tumbling around in your mind. Good stuff! Good job donating and taking a look at where you are and where you want to be going. It's so refreshing to hear about someone who is being thankful for what they have. You are an inspiration to us all! And FWIW, I totally get what you're saying about creativity flourishing under constraints. Funny how that works, eh?

gradfashionista

(website)

Looking forward to your thoughts. One of my New Year's resolutions was not to purchase any clothing (with the exception of a trench!) and I immediately stopped looking at the J.Crew catalog--it helps! The moment of truth came when I returned something to the store and saw the woman next to me purchase a basic shirt in a cute colour for $6 with all the reductions. I reminded myself that it was less about the money than it was about the need to take a time-out from consuming. And honestly? I feel great about 2 months. I saw some linen tanks that I liked online--after checking in on the website for the first time in aaaaages--but I wasn't tempted to buy them. I don't frame my lack of purchasing as a form of abstience (though it is), but a prioritization of goals (achieving a nice living space, 'living with less but only with the best,' etc.). Good luck on your endeavour!

ManidipaM

Thanks for this thread, Laura. It IS actually very freeing and supportive for some of us working on the wardrobe 'restraints'/creativity to have a place where people talk of their own experiences, challenges, how they're doing...

Interestingly, I too tend to have a seasonal (as opposed to calender-driven or religious) relationship with 'cleansing' and 'restocking' --- whether it's the wardrobe or the larder. I find the crux of two seasons always a good time to take stock (also working through excess and finding the gaps) and the peak of a season a fine time to stock up on favourites, staples, and fall-back basics!

Also interestingly, I found myself spending *more* time on the forums during this SYC phase --- looking for inspiration and sparks for creativity --- rather than less. I think knowing I do NOT intend to buy just now frees me to look and evaluate what I do own with a clearer mind and see others' outfits with greater objectivity for possible adapting to my own circumstances and possessions.

Lisa

Thanks for sharing your experience. I always try the SYC challenges when they pop up on the forum and while I often crack, I have found over time my habits are still changing, which is a key reason why I join the challenges anyway. I do find staying away from email and USPS mail advertisements helps me a lot. I will still browse store websites but I also look at blogs for outfit remixing and I try to give myself mini challenges in a week. Recently it's been on Friday's to wear a combination that I would never have worn before with pieces I have, especially orphan one's. I paired a leopard shirt with a pink sweater and just loved it. I heard if you do so on a Friday, co-workers have the weekend to forget how you looked anyway, so it is a good outfit risk day. I look forward to your next reflection week!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

I have one victory, one maybe-failure, and some challenges to report:

On the yay me side, I had to go to the mall yesterday to get the battery in my pedometer replaced, and I didn't browse at all. I didn't avert my gaze from what was around me like a nun in a strip club, but I didn't linger, and I didn't look at anything specifically - I just walked through the mall to the watch place and back out again. Man, Nordstrom looked nice for spring - I saw a lot of the trends that Angie has been talking about.

On the whoops side, I bought some ebooks, but I'm not sure if that counts as recreational shopping given that I was kinda vague about what my break would include, whether it was just clothing items or everything non-food. Then again, I didn't actually spend the money now - I put a certain amount per quarter into my account and then I allow myself to spend only up to that amount. (I do that sort of thing with a lot of things, iTunes and Starbucks, etc.) (To be honest, giving up buying books would be much much harder than giving up buying clothes - I might be able to manage it, but I'd be using the library a lot...which I do already, come to think of it.)

The unexpected upcoming challenge is that I'm starting to get a lot of cards in the mail from retailers since my birthday's this month. A lot of them aren't discounts, they're actual "get $x free during your birthday month" savings. My inner cheapskate is having a hard time considering not even trying to use them, to see if there's anything that I could essentially get for free. I'm still mulling on this and what I'm going to do.

Category