365 days of not buying new items

Each year I set my 'intentions' and various things I would like to experience or accomplish during that year.

For this 2009 year, I claimed it, "Refine '09". With this intention, I set off writing my list of what would mean to me and consist of. On this list I cleaned out every room in my house and a big chunk in my personal office. I gave away so much stuff that I just didn’t need or didn’t serve a purpose in my life, but knew it could for someone else. Among many other 'refining' goals, was to focus on my sustainable efforts. One of which was my agreement NOT to spend money on anything NEW for myself (not including food or basic vanity necessities).

Well, I made it through!

I know that retailers may not like this very much but it wasn’t that ALL retailers missed out either.

I got in the habit of asking myself these key questions anytime I had the desire to buy something that I thought I really wanted:

• Is this item really important that it will change my life or someone else’s in a significant way?
• Will it make a positive impact toward my goals, commitments or my agreements?
• Will this have a long term positive effect on my life or others?
• What could I make as an alternative that is more sustainable?

I realized that my experience has been surprisingly rewarding! Here are the positive outcomes that occurred so far:

• I saved a lot of money – by getting by with something I already had, or could make to substitute for that item.
• I have been able to contribute more to other charities with the money I saved and with items that didn’t serve me anymore.
• I built great contacts and a network of sources as I sought out reused items from resale shops, antique stores, consignment stores.
• I followed through on a commitment to myself and the environment.
• I had fun with the experience and it was almost like a treasure hunt.
• Saved money for several clients and created very fun, eclectic spaces for them by going more green and buying from consignment and antique stores.
• My living environments are more simplified
• It’s made for a pretty creative Christmas! There are so many 'green' ideas to share!
• Saved a lot of carbon emissions for the environment.
• Realized how much I would have spent on unimportant things that have been acquired but didn’t have a real important impact on my life or happiness in the long run.
• Saved a huge amount of waste that could have ended up in the landfill.
• I learned to think out of the box even more and notice things I already have and got pretty creative.
• I harvested my lavender from 2 huge bushes I have and gave as gifts
• Made compost for my plants out of bad hay and horse manure from my horses

So, now that I have already created this new habit and will continue to carry it forward with a new perspective for the year 2010 - Any guess what I have claimed this year?! Look for my next blog!

3. Happiness is a Choice

So I realize that I haven’t been very quick at posting my four 'new' agreements here on my blog – but hey I have to celebrate that I am even doing this so thank you for bearing with me! With that said, this brings me to a third agreement that I have added to my list and I would like to share with you:

"Happiness is a choice"

I have discovered that feelings of happiness are really the response to an initial thought that comes into your mind at any given time that determines ones level of happiness. There are pessimists and optimists - both are choices that result in your attitude and happiness outcome.

Ask yourself:

• Is your glass ½ full or ½ empty?
• How do you react when something doesn’t go your way or as you were hoping?
• When you’re stressed out, how do you react to others or yourself?
• How does life present itself to you when you have either attitude?

Test it out sometime. When these situations occur, notice how you respond, negatively or positively. Then notice the happiness level in the outcome. What works better for you? Meaning, what makes you feel good (not rebellious but at ease, peaceful)?

Here’s another angle to consider:

We all have set goals in our lives and having a positive or happy attitude about them draws a more positive outcome naturally in obtaining them. It also makes the process much more interesting and enjoyable! This saying has a great meaning:

“Happiness comes from moving toward

one’s goals or passions, and it’s not in

the actual getting it”

WHAT?! It took me a little bit to get this intriguing statement. Many times we want what we don’t have but when we finally get it, we feel almost saddened or disappointed. Happiness IS the journey, not the destination or completion. I am not saying to ignore the celebration or to not embrace the successful completion or landmark, but having the understanding that happiness and fullness is also by human nature in the continuation of our desires. So what I’m working on is the idea that when I achieve a goal or reach that destination – I make sure I decide what I want next. That way I am always propelled to move forward and looking to that next step of my dreams.

So once one goal, dream, desire is accomplished:

1. Create another journey.
2. Open up your mind to possibilities that excite you and work toward those happy feeling ones that move you!
3. Don’t forget to reflect and celebrate each step.

It’s in the HOW we experience problems that is more important than THE specific problems we experience. So I guess being a better problem solver would be a good goal!

Here is another healthy activity that can enhance your mood and emotional well being. Because of my love for yoga, I want to share some poses/asanas that help you to connect with happiness. So, set your intention and connect with that joy within you. Don’t stop being divine if you had a bad day. Get on your mat or floor and open your heart to bring more happiness in to your world!

May We All Be Coffee!

Since my last post about my Third Agreement on "happiness is a choice", I think this might be of interest and definitely related. With so many various circumstances that pop up in our lives - whether self-inflicted or not - it's all in how we react and handle the situation that determines our personal outcome. Remembering that we are NOT our circumstances - these are just external effects that happen in our lives. We need to remain aware of these situations and decide to shift out of that place and hold ourselves accountable and worthy of a better place - and better yet, learn from it. It's easier to move on and not remain in a negative attitude. Here is a little story that I would like to pass on that helps to shine a brighter light on handling adversity. (Author unknown)

Let's all be Coffee!

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee... (You will never look at a cup of coffee the same again.)

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up; she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ‘Tell me what you see.’

‘Carrots, eggs, and coffee,’ she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, and egg or a coffee bean?