This will be my last update this year for my minimalist new year’s resolution. I will write a final update once the year has ended.
For those of you just tuning in, at the beginning of the year I resolved to purchase nothing for one year (other than consumables like food and hygiene products).
Why is this my last update?
There are a few reasons:
- I’m bored writing about it, so it’s time to move on.
- You probably don’t want twelve updates over the year telling you I didn’t buy anything (and I don’t want to waste your time or my time with something so banal).
- Most importantly, my internal decision-making pattern has completely changed. I no longer get that impulse to purchase things. Sure, there are still things I want, but I no longer buy stuff on a whim (I noticed this after the first two months, and by the end of 90 days my pattern had completely changed).
I will continue to pursue this resolution for the remaining two-thirds of the year, and I’ll write a recap in January 2012.
Lessons Learned
I’ve learned quite a bit over the past four months:
- I am not my stuff.
- I do not need to purchase new stuff to make me happy.
- I have enough.
- I don’t have less; I have more.
- It’s much easier than you think: it’s easy to say no.
- My time is better spent creating rather than consuming.
- I am not a consumer.
- Less stuff equals less worrying and less stress.
- Less purchases equals less need for income.
- Less need for income equals being able to leave a soul-crushing job.
- I already have everything I need.
- Even though I didn’t purchase anything, I was able to donate the majority of my clothes this month and I still have plenty left.
Read my final update, January 2012: Resolving to Learn from Failure.
