I love it!So I made a new rule after moving, that the only things I was going to allow into my life from now on, were the things that I had strong feelings for. Things that had both the quality level and stylishness that I desired. This conclusion was reached not solely because I have lots of stuff (I do, everyone does), but because I began to contemplate the direction I wanted to head from this point forward concerning the matters that really don't matter- well in this case the stuff one lives with everyday. So I have instituted this rule in regards to matters ranging from clothes to household affairs.
Having in my possession a five-star kitchen in cobalt blue and copper (not the pots...yet), and a studio with equipment that is excellent, I am no stranger of fine affairs. But I noticed when I moved, that a lot of the decisions I had made in acquiring things for the rest of the home had simply occured spontaneously due to a need or decorating/storage requirement or a bargain, and not due to obtaining something that I really desired and thought of as the "best" item in my mind.
Now this rule is very easy to forget; this motto makes one examine their motivations and their problems to be solved. It requires sacrifice and fortitude. There are lots of choices out there to make and lots of temptation. There is cheap, there is will do, there is I kinda like, and these are rather like eating bland cardboard food that leaves you full but without energy. I found these are usually the items that one ends up throwing out or living with begrudgingly. I do not want a life that is cheap, will do, or that I kinda like. I want a life I LOVE.
Case in point. Lamps, I have been searching for lamps for my living room that I absolutely LOVE that are not too outrageously priced, (although I have sworn to myself never to buy cheap floor lamps again)and have still not found any. I have found cheap, I have found would work, but not ones I would look at every day and feel great because they are in my home. So I am still searching.
I realize that adopting this kind of purist philosophy is vexing. I now have some bare walls, and thoughts occur to me daily about what I want on them, and what would work. So they remain minimalist until I find a work of art that... well you know. I have been searching daily painting blogs. So it is a challenge to maintain this motto without coming to the cross in the road where you become a person who never makes a decision. There is a difference between finding what you want after a decision has been made, and never making a decision.
So what is on my mind today, well I almost caved and bought some towels that were 1/2 off. They were the right color, they were good quality, they would have worked. Mine are embarrassing right now, but they still do the job. Then I remembered the ones I absolutely love that I saw in a catalogue. I remembered being good and telling myself I couldn't buy them and throwing away the catalogue because that was way too outrageous to buy towels for that price. But it has been quite some time, and those towels were in the back of my mind. And so I realize that living on purpose requires making decisions that will allow you to make steps towards your goals, however trivial those goals may be, it's good practice, achieving these little goals, to get ready for the big whammy goals.
So read this post with a multi-level approach, because I am not talking about luxurious cable textured white towels here people. I am talking about it's your one life you get to live once. What type of person do you want to be for the rest of your life? Cheap, just kinda working, kinda like, will do? Nah, when nothing before you will do, think about what you really want, narrow it down, inspect for quality of life, wait and go on, what does it take?
So save your hundred bucks a month, buy the towels. And everyday when you fold them and put them into place, they will bring a smile to your face. Be sure to treat decisions in your life with meaning, know when to wait, know when to act, and remember-
ONLY IF YOU LOVE IT.
Fiber Art?
Serging Washcloths
1 comment:
Excellent perspective, Stefanie! We do the same thing, albeit out of necessity. On Maui there isn't the selection you'd find in most large mainland cities, so we quite often find ourselves saying "No" and doing without because something isn't quite right. You learn patience because eventually the right thing comes along (like those beautiful towels, HA!). I'd rather have a few precious things than a lot of crap taking up space!
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