Less is More

It’s time for…

This Year in Goals 2012 Edition. Since my 2011 Year in Goals went to shit (who knew it would be so difficult to learn to throw ninja stars?). I decided to take a different approach for 2012 (especially since according to the Mayans, there will be a Zombie Apocalypse this will be our last year on earth) Gotta make it count, right!

Aside from the usual “lose weight” and “eat healthier” standard New Years goals, this year is going to be a little different for me; I only have one goal…

*no drumroll needed, but thank you anyways*

My 2012 Goal is to invest in experiences not “things”.
I was standing in our second bedroom my walk in closet the other day and I noticed that I have an insane amount of gorgeous things that I totally need crap, like a whole bunch of crap! I almost started to feel suffocated by it all. I had this sudden urge to get rid of everything I own and start over with just the basics (but that would be a little insane of me, right?). I quickly became ashamed of all of the useless things that I have in my possession. Anyone who knows me knows I have a love for shoes and clothes and bags and jeans and shoes and now, the newest addition, gorgeous watches (none of which even tell the correct time or date). I know many women share this same fondness of “things”, I don’t doubt that I am any different in that department than most of my friends, but it has gotten out of control. I realized I am addicted to the feeling of spending money and having a nice collection of things to look at, wear, touch and feel… It isn’t healthy to feel suffocated by your own stuff, but I do and I have a strong desire to purge, starting immediately. I mean, who needs 35 handbags (other than Carrie Bradshaw)?

So this is going to be the year of experiences. Don’t get me wrong, I will always have a love for nice things and I may even slip and splurge here and there on a nice pair of True Religions, but I will purchase more wisely this year. I am adding one more question to the list of questions you are supposed to ask yourself before every purchase:

A) Do I need this?
{or}
B) Do I want this?
{now adding}
C) Will this give me an experience?

If I answer yes to questions A or C, then I will evaluate the purchase more carefully and choose the purchase wisely. If I only answer yes to question B, without said item adding any value to my life, I will bypass the purchase and add whatever money I do not spend on the wanted item into my “Travel Fund”. My Travel Fund is going to be a big part of my 2012 year, that and my Wedding together will be 2 very sacred pieces of my existence starting in the New Year.

I actually have wanted to be a minimalist much of this last decade, I just chose not to talk about it much or to move forward with purging because, well, it’s so damn hard to get rid of all of my beautiful things useless shit! The older I get, the more I realize, that they are just that… things. stuff of no real value to my life as a whole.

think “Big Picture”

I want to start investing in life experiences. Shoes come and go… soles break and jeans rip, memories last a lifetime.

priorities, right?

This year I want to start ridding myself of things that do not matter as much to me as they once did or more so, ridding myself of things that do not matter to me at all. I want to start focusing on things that matter most to me in the grand scheme of life… I want to start selling stuff that is of no use to me anymore and donating things that are of no real value but can’t be thrown away. It’s a life change and I am finally ready to take the plunge.

This doesn’t mean that overnight I am going to be a bonafide minimalist, but I will take the baby steps necessary to making it happen (all in due time). I want my future with my husband and children to be filled with meaning (not that I was living a meaningless life prior, dont get me wrong, I love my life and I love my current and past experiences, just now I am going to adjust accordingly, focusing more on experiences rather than materialistic things). I want to experience life with travels, food, cultures, good movies and weekend trips. Not shoes, clothes and watches, however beautiful, that dont even tell the correct time (possible user error not important). I will still love those things, but I will choose them more wisely (all in moderation, right?)

Life happens when you are waiting for life to happen and I have decided to change what is most important to me, starting now.

Less is More

Cheers to the New Year!

May we all prosper in wealth, love and success… Whatever meaning those three things have to you!