Yesterday I gave away a pair of brand name sunglasses that I held onto because they were expensive and symbolized a time when consumerism was more present in my life. Today I am letting go of a couple of pairs of $5 sunglasses because I accumulated them precisely due to their economical pricetags. So, yesterday’s I bought because they was expensive, and today’s I bought because they were cheap. In the end, it’s all the same capitalism. Our cultures make us buy things. Needlessly.
I’ve learned with being mindful, I am more aware of my movement in the world, how I navigate through the universe at each moment. I get less injuries because I am more present in my body, and I am also more aware of things around me, such as sunglasses when I put them down or take them off for a moment. I have managed to keep the same pair of $5 sunglasses for 2 years, a record time for me. I am certain they will break or I will lose them again. When that time comes, I’ll purchase another $5 pair.
Even up until last summer, I would browse and often purchase a pair whenever I passed the $5 sunglass stands. Consumerism tells us it’s nice to have several different versions of the same thing. Different colors, different styles, different patterns. At one point, I had up to 6 pairs of $5 sunglasses laying around my home. I have one face. I can only wear one pair of sunglasses. And yes, having infinite pairs means more variety, but in this quest for non-attachment, I am looking for simplicity. I will be giving these to a friend who tried them on and received many compliments.
So on Day 320 of my 365 Release practice for non-attachment, letting go and change, I am letting go of objects I acquired and kept due to consumerism, and am letting go to live a more simple life.
[I created the 365 Release Project to practice non-attachment, letting go and change by giving away 1 thing a day for 1 year. The background, vision and guidelines to the 365 RELEASE project are here. The running list of everything I have released is here.]
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