If you have been reading my blog for some time, you will know that I spent the first half of 2017 as a minimalist environmentalist.
Mental being the right word! Late last year, I watched “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things". To say it resounded with me is an understatement. Stuff doesn’t matter. What matters are things that you cannot hold in your hand. Partners. Children. Family. Friendships. Holidays. Quality time. I spent the first half of 2017 cleaning out my cupboards and selling/recycling all of my “stuff”. We started to spend our money on adventures, not "things". I vowed to spend a year not buying anything. To fix broken things instead of purchasing new ones. The challenges I faced were things that I did not anticipate. My kids soccer team were getting shirts made up. Should I be the only mother who doesn't buy one? My kids go to birthday parties. Can I face the look of disappointment on the birthday boys face when they get a movie voucher and not a Tyrannosaurus Rex with glowing eyes and moving head? NO The answer is NO. Being a minimalist can be so socially weird. I want my kids to be included. I don't want to seem rude saying no to gifts. I have learnt that there is a balance. I buy things for my kids that they need. I buy presents. I accept presents with gratitude. However, I teach my kids to be thankful for everything they receive and hopefully they eventually realize that happiness is not in owning huge amounts of crap. Hopefully. On a more selfish level, in mid-2017 my work clothes were looking very tired and my gym pants had lost their elasticity. It’s no secret (if you look at my Instagram account) that I have lost weight over the last 18 months. None of my clothes fit me properly anymore. So I bought new jeans, bras, t-shirts and tights. I do still LOVE shopping. BUT I do really look at shopping differently now. I question whether I really need something before I buy it. I don’t buy things that don’t fit properly just because they are on special. I will spend a bit more money on something that I know will be worn a lot. *Ladies, we all have that expensive bra that we wear just about every day because it is comfortable* I buy better quality things that may be more expensive but are worth the money. They are not wasteful because you keep them forever. So I went a bit crazy there in early 2017. I blame Netflix. I watched too many documentaries about how we are destroying the earth and poisoning ourselves. I slowly changed all of my household products to natural ones. Then changed most of them back because the natural ones don’t bloody work. I slowly changed all of my beauty products to natural ones, then changed most of them back. Especially for my face! That natural shit clogs up your pores and gives you pimples. In your mid-30s there are some places on your body that just require chemicals. FACES REQUIRE CHEMICALS. STRONG CHEMICALS. ACID IF AVAILABLE. In 2018 I have tried to simplify my life. Minimalism of the mind. I stopped cooking so much of my own food. I used to make white bread for the kids to avoid their exposure to seed oils. Now they are eating multiple loaves per week, I struggle to keep up with the demand. So, I buy the brands with the lowest seed oil content instead of busting my arse to bake for them. I used to make my own laundry powder. What the hell was I thinking? I was placing so much stress on myself. I could eat all the best organic, sugar-free food in the world yet still fall into an early grave worrying myself sick about stupid crap. I swung so far into the tin foil hat wearing camp last year that I nearly made myself sick with worry. Worry that we were killing the planet. Worry that I’m disrupting my kids endocrine system with poor food choices and plastic exposure. I got a tattoo a couple of years ago across my ribs. A phrase from the Goblin King, David Bowie himself. “Dance Magic Dance” A reminder to stop worrying and lead a more carefree life. Then I got Netflix. I started to take the weight of the world on my shoulders. A one woman fight to save the planet. What’s different now? I stopped watching documentaries. I chilled the fuck out. I still care but in a way that wont send me to an early grave. Habits that I have maintained and will continue in 2018: -Saying no to plastic bags -Recycling my soft plastics every week -Attempting to use natural zinc-based suncream (especially on the kids) -Having a sugar-free household (parties are fair game) -Composting my scraps -Buying sustainable seafood -Buying grass-fed meats and free-range eggs -Considering any purchases carefully - "do I REALLY need that?" -Meal planning to avoid food waste -Using re-usable lunchboxes when meal prepping -Avoiding using cling film -Saying "no" to straws -I know a vegan Surely if each of us did these small things, then the world would be a better place (and Angie wouldn't have to save the world all by herself). Things I no longer do: -Buy organic fruit and vegetables (too expensive) -Avoid plastic lunchboxes and drink bottles - once your kid has lost their first $60 stainless steel lunch box, you will know why -Avoid microwaving my lunch in plastic -Use natural beauty products -Use natural cleaning products You gotta die of something, and for me, it ain't gonna be worry! Cheers to a chilled 2018. I'm focusing on my fit goals and some serious beach time this year. I can't even be fucked adding pictures to this blog. YOLO
3 Comments
Karen
5/17/2018 12:07:37 am
I agree! And I’m going to take a “chill pill” too. Thanks for a great post that made me laugh out loud. Perfect read at the perfect time.
Reply
Angie
5/17/2018 09:01:45 pm
We can really drive ourselves nuts can't we? ha ha.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |