People keep asking me what I want for my birthday. Well, I want a new car, I want to win the lottery, I want a job that doesn't stress me out, I want free gel manicures every 2 weeks, I want my student loans to not exist, I want this stupid book I'm trying to write to write itself, I want at least three new dresses for spring/summer, I want to go back to Nicaragua, and I want to be able to full snatch more than 75 pounds. How silly and privileged that all sounds when I actually acknowledge it. There are people all over the world who's wants are clean drinking water and a good education while I sit here wanting to add more unnecessary stuff to my life. Stuff. I have too much of it. Way too much. As I was cleaning out my wardrobe this morning and swapping out sweaters and boots for sleeveless blouses and sandals, (yes, I know it's still only in the 40s but I JUST DON'T CARE. So over this winter.) I quickly grew overwhelmed with the amount of clothes that I have. The fact that all of my clothing barely fits into a dresser AND a closet started to really bother me. Stuff. I have too much of it. Way too much. As I was cleaning out my wardrobe this morning and swapping out sweaters and boots for sleeveless blouses and sandals, (yes, I know it's still only in the 40s but I JUST DON'T CARE. So over this winter.) I quickly grew overwhelmed with the amount of clothes that I have. The fact that all of my clothing barely fits into a dresser AND a closet started to really bother me. The only thing I actually need is Jesus, and I already have him. So I am, quite literally, set for life. Yes, I also need to be clothed. But not with as many clothes as I have currently. Thus I have decided to not buy any new accessories or items of clothing from my birthday (March 23rd) through to the end of this year. For me, this isn't to challenge materialism but rather a challenge to be a better steward of my resources. I've never really put much value in tangible things. I like new clothes because they're new, (I mean, who doesn't?) not because I find worth in accumulating stuff. So, for me this is a challenge of contentment. I don't place value on stuff anyway so why do I care about having new stuff? I tend to buy just because I can. But I'm not okay with that. I'll write here once or twice a month about finding contentment among the old and worn. When this is all said and done, my hope is that I'll find that what I have is more than enough. I hope that I will glean joy from what I have without feeling want for more.
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Author4th grade teacher. Writer. Justice-seeker. Encourager. CrossFitter. John 11:40. Archives
July 2017
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