Most who know me know that I am slightly obsessed with cardigans. Well, maybe obsessed is too strong of a word. I have a very strong love for them. They are just so practical and versatile. They can be worn with every kind of bottom and dresses; they can be buttoned, belted or worn open for a more casual look. Everyone really should own one.
The other day, I was talking to a friend about the cardigan she was wearing. It was super cute! It was cream with little navy blue birds on it and a navy blue edging around the collar and down the front. Anyway, she got it from Anthropologie on clearance for $19.95 – what a steal! Anyone who is familiar with Anthropologie knows that a sweater on average can range anywhere from $100 - $250.
As we were discussing this beautiful article of clothing, a couple things crossed my mind: 1. How can I get this sweater and 2. If they don’t have it, I have to find something similar somewhere else. The next thing that came out of my mouth took me a little by surprise. I said, “I need to get more cardigans that have prints on them.” Pause. I actually paused after “need” came out of my mouth and corrected myself and said “want.” I realized pretty quickly what I was saying, when the truth of the matter is I really don’t NEED another piece of clothing and for sure do not NEED any more cardigans. What’s my deal?!
Well, I am human. I know, really it’s true. I fall into the consumer mentality myself and more often that I care to admit. The thing that got me as I was reflecting was the fact that I said I “need” that. That could be further from the truth. So often needs and wants become enmeshed and we just end up with a lot of stuff. Many times I feel a tension within myself as I desire to live a more freeing life in the midst of the limitations of my current life. How do I incorporate those liberating aspects into the life I live? What does that look like?
For example, I have experienced a sense of freedom in simplifying my life in the areas of time, relationships, and material things. When I am intentional about that, life is great. When it comes to material things, I cannot even tell you how many times my husband and I have said that we need to go through our storage and purge stuff. Or go through our kitchen cupboards because I know we don’t use a lot of the items that we store in them. I, fortunately, have gotten on a good rhythm of cleaning out my closet and getting rid of clothes that I don’t wear frequently enough. It is kind of overwhelming and exhausting to think about all of this.
In summation, I think that I need someone to come in and conquer this huge undertaking with me, that is cleaning out our storage, kitchen, and closets. Or for now, I need to let that go and be okay with what I can accomplish in this moment. Maybe the real change starts within myself by becoming fully aware of the consumer in me so that I can begin to experience freedom in small, simple ways.
No comments:
Post a Comment