You don’t know what you don’t know
The theme of not missing something you never knew existed has been one of the guiding forces in my life. I typically relate this theme back to when I was a youngster with poor eyesight. It wasn’t until my first refraction eye exam, when the eye chart was brought into sharp focus, that I realized my vision was wonky due to high myopia also known as extreme nearsightedness.
“It wasn’t until my first refraction eye exam…” On the surface this sentence might seem inconsequential but when I go back to life before that examination, my poor eyesight was normal and I was blissfully unaware of the fact I couldn’t see well. Knowledge changes everything.
Being here to witness the advancing evolution of technology like television, cable, microwaves, phones, game consoles, computers, internet, and vehicles is amazing. Even the way we communicate with one another, the amount of, and how we receive information, is fascinating. But a part of me can’t help but wonder if instant gratification and having so many choices can be detrimental to our humanity as our attention is being pulled in so many directions.
“The most important things in life aren’t things.”
Making the decision to not let the possession or lack of something control me has been one of my life’s most liberating experiences. The process begins with understanding who you are and what’s valuable to you.
For me, the need for order is critical. So when I examined my current lifestyle I saw many opportunities to pare down. For example, I no longer require china so I’m giving it away to a friend. No china means no need for a china cabinet. Other areas where I scaled back:
- No longer buying anything without giving something away or tossing
- Unsubscribed from email lists
- Turned off electronic notifications i.e. FB, Twitter, Instagram & email
- Limited social media and smartphone applications
- Got rid of all CDs and DVDs
Cancelled solicitation requests via mail- Deleted seldom used online tools
- Instead of gifts I’ve requested donations to my favorite charity
- Deleted unused programs on my computer
In addition to the above—with the exception of household items like; food, paper towels, toilet paper, and soap—I try not to keep multiples. I’ve narrowed down clothing, shoes, handbags, coats, and accessories. Using 100 percent of what I own and keeping only those things I enjoy, has improved my mood by reducing stress, created more open space in my condo, not to mention my mind, and is allowing me to focus on where I am needed most.
Gone are the days where I hang onto something to wear just because. The necklace in today’s pictures is an example of one I’ve had for a few years but I never wore. The question I had to ask myself was ‘why am I keeping this if I’m not going to use it?’ This is why I like the ‘something comes in, something goes out’ philosophy because it allows me to see more clearly what I truly need to replace and with reduced inventory selections are much easier.
I still have to get to the place where I do not need storage for overflow but I like where I’m headed. Working on a cable solution is one of my next projects. It’s silly to have a bazillion channels when I don’t watch TV. Getting rid of Verizon as my cell phone provider last year was one of the best decisions I made. My bill is about 1/3 of what I used to pay and I’m receiving the same service. So lookout cable, I’m coming for you!
Outfit Description:
- Blue jeans
- Black top
- Black faux suede mule wedge shoes
- White faux leather moto jacket
- Silver plated crystal statement necklace