Simple Self Improvement

Shops in Adelaide                                            Image:Marie Vonow In the days leading up to officially starting this personal shopping ban challenge I must admit I was tempted to do a bit of 'binge shopping' at a couple of op shops. Also, I kept thinking about a salmon pink cardigan I had seen at KMart that I liked. I managed to resist temptation and now, three weeks later, that cardigan doesn't seem important. How does clutter accumulate? I have thought a lot about how much stuff one accumulates even when trying to declutter and keep from accumulating new clutter. It occurred to me it isn't surprising stuff accumulates over the years. I married and moved into my first home (apart from my childhood home) in 1975 which is now 44 years ago. Now, say I acq...

A small piece of one street art painting at Smithfield            Image:Marie Vonow Looking at street art is one of the simple joys in my life. I am glad there are artists who create street art for all to enjoy. There are a wide variety of styles and topics, surely there is something for everybody. Smithfield (South Australia) At the Smithfield railway interchange, a ten minute train ride from 'my' station, there is bright street art depicting the local history. I didn't know anything about Smithfield's history until the street art motivated me to do a bit of online research. Anne and John Smith                                     Image:Marie Vonow The Smiths I guessed  Anne and John Smith were early settlers and that Smithfield was name...

I love browsing in this type of shop                                     Image by free Photos from Pixabay Hi there. Well it's nearly a week since I started my personal shopping ban challenge. And I am surviving. As I have mentioned in some of my posts, I like a bit of retail therapy. I enjoy going somewhere different and looking at the shops there. This inevitably leads to a purchase or two. I am not in debt over these unnecessary purchases so what's the harm in it?  As an associate said, it helps the economy.  The trouble is it's rather like mindless snacking where I find myself eating, not because I am hungry but because, well because I can, or perhaps I am a bit upset or think I deserve a treat. With mindless shopping I sometimes end up buying things I don't use much or at all.  It has become a habit to buy something when I walk into an op shop and that o...

It can be tempting to buy things one doesn't need.                                  Image:Marie Vonow I recently came across a book called The Year Of Less, how I stopped shopping, gave away my belongings, and discovered life is worth more than anything you can buy in a store. It was written by Cait Flanders. Image:Marie Vonow The title of this book intrigued me. After reading it, I didn't immediately think, 'Wow. I'm going to stop shopping for a year too!' A couple of weeks passed. I started thinking about how often I buy things I don't need and, I am embarrassed to admit, by the time I get them home, sometimes don't even want. Many people shop for the sake of shopping a lot more than I do but I certainly buy stuff I don't need. I may buy something because it's pretty, sparkly, because I've earned it, I deserve it, I need a treat or it's great value. I ...

Clay tiles Whitmore Square Adelaide                       Image:Marie Vonow Having moved house at the start of 2019 and having decluttered (again!) before moving, I thought I had this decluttering thing worked out. However, for me it is an ongoing process. A different house means I no longer use some things I previously did and it means I have found it necessary to acquire a few things I didn't need in my previous house. What should I do with items I am not using now? Now, what should I do about the things I don't currently need? Could I possibly need them in the future? Perhaps and perhaps not. Should I hold onto them or set them free? Mostly, I have decided to donate what I no longer need to op shops or give away through Gumtree. I have sold a couple of items too. Thinking before I buy I am thinking carefully before making any new purchas...

Part of mural inside Chocolatree cafe 25 O'Connell Street North Adelaide                        Image:Marie Vonow I enjoy spending time with friends but sometimes I enjoy going off and exploring somewhere on my own. Recently I caught the train and then a bus to North Adelaide and spent a morning wandering around the shops on O'Connell Street. I had a fun time and came home feeling full of energy, ideas and enthusiasm. Talking to a stranger Soon after I got off the bus a stranger who was sitting on a bench smiled at me. She said I looked like her friend Sophie. We fell into conversation about 'doppelgangers' . After a few minutes I went on my way. Had I been in company I doubt the woman would have spoken to me for fear of intruding.  Some street art I love street art, the way it pops up in unexpected places and is there for everyone to view whenever they want. It's free to v...

                                                                                                    Image:Marie Vonow These days we are provided with much information and many opinions on the topic of how to live a happier life. Hey, the topic of this blog is simple ways to live a happier life. Some of the ideas I read or hear about are ones I basically agree with or support most of the time, but not all the time. An example of this is the concept of living in the moment or being mindful. ...