The Home Stretch

Day 338

Here we are in December. For 11 months I have succeeded in NOT buying clothes, shoes or accessories. One month to go to make it a full year.

A full year to this challenge is critical. I am sure much can be gained from a month, 3 or 6. But a full year means you live through every season, every holiday, every event. There is no new swimsuit or new fall boots. There is no birthday outfit. No Easter hat and no sparkling holiday outfit. No room for weight gain and no way you can mistreat the clothes you have.

A full year also ensures that the necessary time is spent living through the stages:

1. Woo hoo! Look at me! I am not buying anything.
2. Holy cow--look at all the stuff I have that I don't even wear! Why did I ever buy this?
3. Uh oh--this is all I have so I'd better take good care of it.
4. I don't need it, I don't need it ...
5. This is the stupidest idea I have EVER come up with. 
6. Yes, I'm still doing it. No, I don't cheat. (grrrr ...)
7. I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR.
8. OK- I'm seeing a light at the end ...
9. Wait a minute, this stuff is not as important as I thought.
10. Yes, I made this myself, I have more time on my hands.
11. What's going to happen when I can shop again?
12. TBD

I could stop now but this holiday season will be the icing on the cake. The desire to buy heaps of discounted clothes is still there but my voice of reason is strong. In fact, when I see others at a store cash register loaded down with goods, I feel kind of sad for them. I've been there and all of those sweaters aren't going to make anything better. There's a good chance that the recipient won't even wear the sweater. They won't return it either, because why bother? 

On the other hand, a year is completely do-able. There is only one Christmas for which I haven't bought clothes, shoes or accessories. Only one birthday. Just one summer in which I will relied on what I already had. A year can go by in the blink of an eye.

Yes--there are a few things I will be replacing on January 1. But I will never be the same person I was 11 months ago. This has been both the longest and shortest year of my life.