Why I’m doing a [ONE-YEAR BAN] on buying books or courses (and creating a Little Free Library)

Though I live simply, I’ve had one vice that’s been strong since my 20’s – buying books.  When our family of three moved into our current home in 2009, we came with 23 bookcases – some 4’x8’, some 3’x6’, some smaller – but all filled.  Some had albums in them, yes, albums, but mostly books.  As my daughter has grown, so has our book collection.   I wish I’d counted all the books I’ve released since then, but I’m certain it’s in the 1000’s.  Yet, I’ve also continued to buy books.

One of the surviving bookcases is housed in my dining room, and I’m in the process of redoing it. By redoing, I mean re-evaluating what’s there, moving things out, creating space for what I want more of in the next 12 months.  Writing is one of those things.  Since my bookcase falls in the creativity section of my dining room in feng shui, it’s critical to be clear and deliberate with what’s here…if I want to manifest my desire to write more.   For me, this is an area that continues to get jammed up.

While I was creating a “writing section” in one area of this bookcase, it was easy to see nothing was moving in until something else moved out.

I’d done it again.

I’d pushed aside a big vision and filled it with lots of tiny obstacles.

Things. Stuff.  Obstacles to space.

I stopped the process and just sat down where I was.  I started to write to get clarity on my next steps.  I didn’t want to just move books around and “make room”.  I needed a new way of being.

This new way of being resulted in declaring a one-year book buying ban.  To hold myself accountable and to document it, I’m sharing my journey, with the hope this adds some value to you, and you can benefit from my process.

My intention for the ban is to use the resources I have.   If I’m tempted to buy something, I’ll shop from my shelves.  Even though Amazon Prime and I are tight – you know, on a first name basis kind of thing – I could create my own amazon.

Instead of recreating my own Amazon, I’ve decided to create a “Little Free Library”.  Have you seen them?  They’re those adorable little “mini-tree-house-looking” wood houses that hold books.  You place it on your property and wa-lah, instant library!  I’ve been wanting to do this for years, and never made time for it.   While I’m just starting the research on it, I’m super excited to start!  I’m seeing them popping up all over locally and I love them.   More on this soon!

Lastly, in addition to the book ban, I’m also declaring a one-year ban on buying courses – online or otherwise.  (Only exception is additional coaching certifications already on my radar and accounted for.)    I began 2017 committed to 3 trainings, and through the year, I’ve added at least 7 others that I can recall.  Everything looks good to me.  I have this insatiable appetite for learning and growing.  But right now, I’m letting what I know and what I have be “Enough”.

In our world of consumerism, of always looking for the next biggest thing, it’s easy to fall prey to having too much.   Also, in a world where there’s so many struggling to eat, or pay their mortgage, or find a job, having “too much” feels far too wasteful to me.

Look for updated posts on the Little Free Library and updates on the bans!

Like this article, or find value?  Share it with those who’ll benefit from it.

See you soon!

xo

Chris

By |2017-08-13T16:16:55-04:00August 13th, 2017|Uncategorized|5 Comments

Are you resisting the flow? Or riding waves with ease?

I wasn’t in the flow today.

I’m not sure what tipped me off first – the guy abruptly backing into my car while I waited at the stop sign,  or my windshield wiper flying off as I drove down the Black Horse Pike – in the rain.  But I was definitely NOT in the flow, and felt my day spiraling into chaos.

Maybe it was the meltdown that came before I left my house after getting an upsetting call, reminding me of the conflict I feel about a decision that must be made, soon.  Or being woken up by outrageously loud saws, music and voices coming from my next door neighbors roof as men installed fascia on his home.   Or when my vacuum cleaner spit OUT the items it was supposed to be taking in.  Maybe it was when the water spilled all over the paperwork I needed to take with me when I left the house.    Or the torrential rain and winds that took down a tree near my house, causing me to drive down a different street, placing me at that stop sign so the kind gentleman could smash into me in the first place.

Yeah, it was all of that.  One after another, things were happening, reminding me to stop.  To slow down.  To pause, and feel the emotions  flooding through me.

I knew it was time to get quiet.

But my intention was clear when I woke up.  We were driving to North Jersey to see the documentary, Vaxxed.   “My plan” was to get out of the house – despite the prediction of rain later in the day, despite my car needing to be dropped off for service, despite seeing unfinished signs to be made for a yard sale, despite dishes in my sink, despite my printer needing fixing so I can get it to scan, despite my home needing attention, and “me” needing attention.

I wanted to stick with “the plan”. 

But my daughter wasn’t embracing spending a chunk of the day in the car, which would’ve been the case.   Honoring her needs as well as mine is a core value to me.   So I amended the plan.  But I didn’t really want to.  I was all in my head thinking how important this film is, and how we can only make change if we all see the facts.  I’ve seen the film in NY but my daughter hasn’t.   My real resistance to cancelling our plans though had little to do with the actual film, and more to do with the mayhem I felt inside.  I needed order, and going with the plan allowed me to feel in control – of  something.

Here’s the truth.

Our “plan” really has no place in our day.  We can plan, sure.   And, we need to be aware, (for me, much more quickly), when our plans need amending.  It was one of those days – I wanted to do what I intended, and I didn’t feel like being flexible.

How many times have you had days like this?  Where things weren’t lining up the way you wanted, where you were resisting, and received constant blocks trying to redirect you?  What will you do next time this happens?

I know what I’ll do.  I’ll get on my yoga mat and meditate.  Or  write.  Or breathe.  Or cry.   Or all of those.

zen place

There’s a time to plow through and stick with the plan, and there’s a time to allow things to unfold naturally.  When those blocks come, it’s a reminder to slow down, to pause.

It’s not time to plow – it’s time to allow.

Because sometimes we need to allow stuff to move through us before it can leave us.

I’d love to hear what you do when this happens for you.   How do you reset yourself?  How do you tune back in?  I often will organize or clear clutter, but that just wasn’t in my energetic field today.   The universe had other plans.

Leave a comment below, and if this helped you, please share it!

With love and blessings,

Chris

 

By |2017-04-22T19:37:36-04:00June 8th, 2016|Holistic Health, Intuition|0 Comments
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