Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
The Bracelet
For a girl who doesn’t shop much, I feel like I spend a lot of time resisting purchases. Recently, I found myself coveting a particular style of bracelet. It was a cuff-style that I like, it came in several colors that go with my “palette” and was both interesting and affordable. I could see myself wearing it—often. But did I need it? No, I did not. I tried it on at several stores, gotten close to ordering it online, but every time, I held myself back.
Last weekend, though, I relented. What happened?
I was at my college reunion (30th, gasp!) and I was having a blast with three good friends. It was an unexpectedly magical day, unstructured and fun. When we descended upon The Mexican Shop, the hippie-haven of our school days (“I can’t believe it’s still here!”) and I saw the bracelet, I knew I had to have it. For not only would I wear it (my style, my colors), but now I knew it would remind me of this amazing day and my wonderful friends.
There’s so much stuff out there for us to buy. I often feel like I have to throw up obstacles: Is it organic? Made in the USA? BPA-free? It’s too easy to buy something just because it’s cute. Or even because it is “you”—because as unique as I’m sure you are, that’s still too easy. If Anthropologie doesn’t have your number, Title Nine probably does.
As the shopping season (and really, what season isn’t the shopping season in the America of 2017?) comes barreling towards us, raise the bar. Resist. Fight each impulse to purchase. Sometimes you’ll fail, but hopefully you’ll end up with less stuff, but stuff that is better. And less but better feels like success to me.