So I’m having one of those days where i want to make a
change. I’ve just signed up to Rhythms, which is part of Tearfund (www.tearfund.org.uk) and found some
really interesting points.
Firstly, seeing where i am in the global rich list (www.globalrichlist.com) I’m in the top
97%! Even on my NHS physio wage, a very humbling thought. I posted it on my Facebook,
wondering how many other people it may affect.
Secondly, I came across a blog from a lady who didn’t buy
any clothes for a year, i was interested. I like a bit of a challenge. Realistically
I’m not a huge shopper and go through phases of having huge clearouts and
giving it all to charity shops. However as I read on, there were a few things
that really hit home for me.
Like the lady in the blog, I use shopping to treat myself, especially
if I’ve lost weight there’s a real sense of satisfaction buying clothes that
are perhaps a size smaller than normal. My clothes give me at times an enhanced
sense of self-worth. Not to mention feeling a little superior, if I’m wearing a
brand or something more unique. I am therefore at times guilty of “buying” my
sense of self and as highlighted by the rich list, I can apparently afford to
do this. Shopping can however at times have the opposite effect on me, if I’ve
put on weight, trying to find things that fit can be sometimes sole destroying.
In more recent years though I have become more aware of the
above habits and although I could use shopping to make me feel better, I realise
this isn’t the solution for me. At this point I think it’s important to
highlight that I do not have an opinion or judgement on anyone else who does
enjoy shopping, this is just me.
Over the last couple of years shopping has started to feel
really self-indulgent. From initially saving up to have a 6 month career break,
to going away and working with the beautiful girls who live in the large
orphanages in Thailand. These girls have none of their own clothes and all
wear the same oversized t-shirts and baggy shorts, every single day. The only
time they wear anything else, is when the volunteers take them out on trips and
for that they get to wear something different. The volunteers have a small collection
of clothes that the girls can choose from. They get to wear them for a few
hours before having to put their “ward clothes” back on. But they are not their
clothes, a week later some of the other girls will be wearing them on a trip.
Despite saying all of the above you may be thinking why am I
considering this, when I am clearly already aware of how self-indulgent
shopping can be? I believe however, that I do still have some dis-jointed views
on the value of shopping and labels and the impact on my self-image and there’s
always room for improvement. I still have days where I “feel” like I have no
clothes. At this point however, I’m embarrassed to say I currently have a
double wardrobe; 3 drawer chest of drawers; a drawer under my bed that are all
stuffed with clothes. Not to mention the pile on my stool; the items randomly
lying on my old computer; the things hanging on the back of my door; the big
box of shoes in my wardrobe; the overflowing shoe rack downstairs. I also have
clothes out on the line and in the airing cupboard and last but probably not,
there are a few odd bits in my car. Gosh I cringe at the thought!
Ok, so the challenge...1
year without shopping, ooh I feel a little bit sick as I write this. Why not
6 months, or 5 and a half, in time for me going to Thailand so I can stock up
at the markets? No, I get the feel it needs to be longer. I panic; do I have
enough clothes to sustain me? I believe the answer to this lies in the
paragraph above!
The rules:
1: No shopping for anything for myself for 1 year. This includes
clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags etc but does not include toiletries or food –
that’s too much!
2: I cannot accept any of the excluded items as gifts.
I would suggest to anyone desperate to buy me these things
to donate the money they would have spent to CCD www.ccdthailand.org or For Life Thailand http://4lifethailand.org (UK arm of the same charity). I too plan to
donate money I would have likely spent on shopping, to the above charities. I hope
that this blog may inspire others, raise awareness and help us who don’t
already know, realise and appreciate how lucky we are. I plan to update this
blog as and when during the year.
