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The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

Experiments In Minimalism: I’m Doing A Shopping Ban

Joy Inducing Tactics | November 24, 2018

Happy Black Friday!  Though today I got some long awaited and fabulous deals on some wellness products I’ve been lusting over for months- namely a fantastic new vegan suede yoga mat from Blogilates and my favorite supplements from Onnit– I’ve been also lusting over minimalism.

Over the last few months, I’ve been purging and downsizing.  I’ve been slowing down on the shopping and getting down to brass tacks to consume less and save more.  I’ve done minimalist challenges and some vlogs on minimalism on my YouTube channel, but I’m really excited about what’s next.

For 2019, I’m not buying anything.  Yep, for a year I’m doing a shopping ban and not buying clothes, makeup, collectibles and even, gasp- BOOKS.  Yes, I’m quite scared.  But I’m mainly excited.  I started to realize that while I was making huge strides in getting rid of things, I really need to sit with my relationship with stuff.  I will never be closer to minimalism if I don’t better understand my triggers and what gets me to emotionally shop.  What is my why behind what I buy?

I have a few rules for this shopping ban, (borrowed from author Cait Flanders):

-I can still buy food and medicine (obviously)
-I will buy toiletries only when I’m completely out (I have plenty)
-No clothes, but if something I wear regularly wears out and can’t be mended, I can replace it.
-Gifts and charitable donations are okay
-Supporting Kickstarters and book launches of friends is also okay (My friends do cool things, I support those things)

So, with that- I did do some shopping on Black Friday- but in 2019, I’m not buying diddly squat.

I already have withdrawals in anticipation of not getting the stuff that brings me a lot of joy, but I’m also excited to potentially get my savings rate up to 50% and make huge strides in getting caught up on my retirement goals.  I’m also excited to prune my behavior to stop buying the things that bring me “meh” joy and will no longer be mindlessly consuming for whatever reason. Double win!

If I stay on track, I’ll easily put away $30,000 by 2020 to put in my retirement accounts- which is pretty snazzy.  I’m at a point in my life that I’d rather have money in the bank and the freedom that comes with it, than the countless moments I shop without thinking about it that fade into the background of behavior I never think about.

For me, living a life that’s sparked and full of wonder is to be constantly experimenting.  To try new things and prune the behaviors that are no longer serving you, to get to where you want to go- folding things back in as they make sense.  Life is a big adventure- and honestly, I don’t want to tell myself I “can’t” do anything anymore.  I told myself I “couldn’t” go without shopping and that alone was enough to get me to try.

I would like to think I can do anything, and even if I fail as an aspiring minimalist- that failure is good data and self exploration.

More On My Shopping Ban in 2019:

So, with that- happy Black Friday and Oh-Em-Gee, I can’t believe I’m going to not buy things.  Bless my heart.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

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Some people just make the world a more vibrant pla Some people just make the world a more vibrant place, simply by being in it.  I can say that about these people- who make life more colorful, brighter and true just by being themselves. 

Grateful we could slow down to capture a little snippet in time for our family before we grow again. ❤️
IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelb IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelblogger #travel #familytravel #travellust
3 years since this photo was taken and my former k 3 years since this photo was taken and my former kidney became this guy's kidney. ❤️

I can say, I've grown to appreciate this moment a lot more as time has gone on.  It hasn't been an easy road for my recipient, he and his family have had a few health scares and ups and down, but I'm so grateful we are in each other's lives.

Chances are, you may know of someone in need of a kidney. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S., over 80 million people, are at risk for kidney disease.  While not every diagnosis leads to kidney failure, there are millions of people in this scary limbo hoping for good news.

I didn't know my recipient before this process started, but when I found I could live healthfully with one, I knew I had to try.  Donation is low-risk, my costs were generously covered by my recipient (both through insurance and the kindness of others) and I was back at work in 4 weeks.  Needless to say, it was easier than birthing a baby.

Candidates for kidney donation are thoroughly vetted to ensure the surgery, and life with one kidney are a good fit.  Trust me, your team will not ask you to donate if you have any risk factor of being in need of a transplant yourself down the road.  Testing took months and was incredibly thorough.  Your remaining kidney can do the job of two, and my kidney levels are normal and healthy 3 years later.

Even if you don't personally know someone who needs a kidney, please consider living kidney donation.  You can anonymously donate, be paired through a registry or find someone on social media who is in need, like I did.  There are literally thousands of people using Instagram and Facebook to try and someone who is even willing to get the basic tests.  You could be their person.  Have questions? I’m here for you! 

Being a living kidney donor absolutely enriched my life beyond imagination and has blessed my little family with a beautiful extended family to celebrate with.  Grateful for this day.
Life’s moments are made better with our pets. ❤️

Joey had been with us for nearly 4 years, made possible by the kind folks of South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue. I picked him up, intending on fostering him for a few weeks and ended up falling in love with his sweet spirit, exuberance for anything food related and his lovable derpiness.

Previously, he was kept in a small cage with two other terriers, all day every day and used as a stud. When he was no longer profitable, he, like plenty of others, was surrendered to rescue.  He was blind in one eye, needed teeth extracted and had skin lesions from life in a cage. 

Life hadn’t been easy for him, but I’m glad a rescue was there to give him a second chance, and they trusted me to give in his second chapter.  He was a well travelled dog and he was the Best Pup on our wedding day in Marfa.  Last night we said goodbye. Hubs and I will miss him dearly, but savor the moments and adventures with our little tank. 

Adopt, don’t shop.  Support your local rescues and give your fur kids an extra squeeze for Joey tonight.
“Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked “Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked me this before. To which, I answer- life is full, wonderful, and I am grateful. 

I believe he asks because before kids, I had a very different lifestyle. I traveled to Europe by myself, started businesses, donated a kidney, ran half marathons, got my master’s degree.  I lived a full life, then too. I was fiercely independent because I had to be.

I’m still that person, but fortunately I have more people to share it with. I also have to be more vulnerable than ever.

I had years to find myself and don’t plan on losing that woman I forged. Being a mom has also helped me heal some of the hard parts of the experience I had with my own mom. (I didn’t see that last part coming.)

Being a mom can make you lose yourself.  For me, it’s helped me discover myself once more. Grateful for this day and so many days - I’m just happy to be here. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone. I hope you discover yourself, heal what you need and feel the love today and everyday.

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