Life’s Necessities

“Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
Luke 12:15 (MSG)

It’s easy to get tricked by the world. One moment we’re happy running around with our friends, getting milkshakes and watching sunsets, the next we are plotting our next purchase, the next car, the next bag, etc. etc. How to ward yourself of striving for those worldly things that we know don’t bring happiness? It’s a struggle for me, but here are some ways I try to bolster my defenses.

1. Sleep on it.

It’s SO easy to point, click, buy these days. My attempt to give up E-commerce was centered around this whole phenomenon. Instead of just ordering what I “need” I try and institute a 24-hour rule. Before ANYTHING is ordered off Amazon, before the new top I desire is in my shopping cart, I wait 24 hours. If I still want it, I order it. This takes the edge of that desire just simmering below the surface to acquire for the sake of just doing it. 

2. Give it away.

I try to detach myself from the feeling of possessing something by being more flexible with giving. This became real for me when a close family member went through chemo and lost her hair. I ended up giving her my favorite hat so she could feel cool and chic in the summer. I’d had that hat for nearly 10 years and I LOVED IT. But you know what I love more? The smile on my friend’s face when she put it on. Getting used to giving things away, even things I love, breaks that possessive nature. Hint: if you want to keep it, it’s a good gift. 

3. Reduce, reduce, reduce!

Instead of buying at big box stores, or filling up my shopping cart at a large grocery chain, I try only to buy what I’ll need for the next few days. This provides a few benefits, it reduces the amount of food I throw away since I’m buying less, but it also forces me to use those “reserves” in my house. You know, the stuff in the freezer, the pantry, etc. You get really creative when you are forced to make dinner from a couple strips of bacon, frozen peas and some pasta. I enjoy having an Iron Chef moment and making something out of nothing. It saves money and time, but man it’s hard to resist not running to the store every time I need something.

Those are my tips on how to meet the demands for life’s necessities without falling down the rabbit hole into a greedy mindset. It’s a constant struggle, with consumerism surrounding us at every turn. But this lemon is worth the squeeze, simplicity ultimately become it’s own reward.