Goodness... it's been a whole month since I have updated the blog... slacking... sorry.
So I gave myself a challenge for the month of May. I love clothes and accessories... I am a bargain hunter and love sales and coupons to my fav stories so it is not like I spend a lot of money. They are usually "little purchases." I am the kind of person that passing up a New York and Co. or Express Coupon I get in the mail seems wasteful... Its like free money... right? :) Ok.. so you have to spend money to save money... I guess not free. So we got down that I love to shop...
I challenged myself for the month of May that I would not buy one piece of clothes, no shoes, no jewelry, ect. At times it was hard. I even threw coupons away! GASP! I would see coupons or advertisements on Tv or from my email that talked about incredibles deals but I did not crack!!
The reason for the challenge:
1) To save some money - I don't think that I really spend THAT much on clothes - but how about not spending any one month?
2) To learn to be CONTENT with what is in my closet. That is hard. But I look at my closet and I have more that ENOUGH clothes that I need I have so much. When I watch commercials or see advertisements - its like it is telling me that I need more. But do I really NEED that tank or that pair of shorts? I don't NEED it. I WANT it.
So now I am trying to really filter through when I go shopping in the future if it is something that is more a need or just a want... and yes I have already bought something in June - a pair of $3 Capri Leggings. But that might be my only big splurge for the month... :)
I read a book in college and I am about halfway through it again. It is called Calm My Anxious Heart (by Linda Dillow). It is about worry and contentment. I haven't got to the worry part - I am just getting through the contentment portion.
One thing it talks about is being content in the stage of life you are in. This is hard for me to do sometimes... Since I have been little it has always been... well when I get a drivers license..., when I graduate High School ... When I go to College... when I get married... when I get my full time job... then I will be content. Still I have my drivers license, graduated High School, went to College, got married, have my full time job... and still am I content.. no. It is such a process. This book has just given me inspiration to be thankful where I am in life.... which is hard at times... but with the Lord's help... hopefully I will be more thankful.
It also talks about being content with what we have. Like talked about above... I always want more. My thinking is always "well if I have this... then I will be content." But I get that, then it is on to the next thing. I am trying to have a new perspective of this. It does not help that I live in America - basically the most wealthy nation... that constantly throws it in your mind that you need, need, need. Contentment is not part of their game. If Contentment was the popular thing, advertisers and marketing people would be out of jobs. I am sure that I will need to keep reading this book over and over to pound it in my head that I need to be Content....
Philippians 4: 11-13:
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. "(New Living)
I love this passage by Paul...who was truly content. Being content is something I can achieve through Christ who gives me strength... but only by HIS strength.
