Enough Already
I bought four books last night.
Count em’.
Four.
Two of them were cookbooks.
Which I never buy cause they are so darn expensive. But I had a coupon for buy one get on 50% off.
I have really been into food lately.
The quality of food. The politics of food. Clean eating. Trying to make healthier food again. Eating close to the earth. Eating for my health and the health of my family and the health of the planet.
You get the picture.
The only problem is, is that I have probably 100 books in the house I haven’t read. Before you get to riled up, most of them come from the annual $1 sale at our local library. I just can’t seem to help myself but to go every year…
The ones on my nightstand however are usually full price, gifts, or bought with a Border’s coupon.
I go through these phases of interests! When a new interest pops up, like food, I get all giddy to find out all the information I can about it. I am an insatiable information gatherer. To a fault if you asked my ex-shrink! (She was referring to all the worldly issues I used to fill my mind and spirit with)
So for the first time in a long time, I feel an immense amount of guilt at my purchase at the bookstore last night. Even if I really do need a few quality food cookbooks, if I am going to begin to make quality food for my family. The guilt is there and I just can’t shake it.
I am making a commitment today to myself. I am making a commitment to the simple life I want. I am making a commitment to minimalist living and the fun of scavenger hunts for the books I want to read.
I am not buying even one book for one year.
If I have learned anything in that time, I won’t run out to the bookstore the day before next Thanksgiving and load up on all the quality reading options that have come out in the last year that the library didn’t have. I will have learned to get creative, or opened library accounts in neighboring towns at least! I will have learned that the same information can probably be found in other books. I will hopefully have discovered, that whatever void it is I fill with buying books, can be filled with other things…not ice cream either. I will accept that just because a fabulous author is coming for a booksigning, doesn’t mean I can’t go LISTEN without BUYING.
Even if that means my all-time favorite author, Terry Tempest Williams, comes out with a new book. If she does, hopefully she will release it just before my birthday in March and I can ask for it! After all, every book she has written, I have a signed copy of. Or my husband can surprise me with it on some random day because he loves me…hahahahahahahahahhahaha…oh that is funny.
Even if we know each others love languages, it doesn’t mean we remember to act on it.
So that is it. For on year, I will not buy a book for myself. It will have to come in the form of a gift or the library or the old fashion borrowing from a friend tactic.
I have anxiety about this. Seriously. I can barely breathe. But I also think it will become a fun challenge for me!
And I do want to be living simpler…and there is no time like the present to start, especially considering tomorrow we will be counting our blessings for all we DO have!
Spill it: OK, time for you to share your addiction! Do you buy clothes you don’t need? Do you buy craft things you won’t get too? Do you buy books? Things for your kids? What addiction do you have that you just can’t stop yourself from heading toward?
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November 24th, 2010 at 9:22 am
I’m addicted to buying food…groceries, out to lunches, bulk buying, etc. I need to get back on track with my meal planning so I don’t go overboard.
and YES…real coffee someday for sure. I love coming down that way and I will contact you one of these times I get down there.
November 24th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Try Paperbackswap.com! You post books that you’re done are willing to share. If someone wants a book you just have to ship it to them! That way you earn credits to get a book from someone else. At least that way you’re not buying books, but you’re able to get new ones. The only thing you must resign yourself to is giving up some of your own books
I know that’s tough for you. Hey, there are worse things to be hooked on than books full of information and wonder! Cut yourself some slack, friend!
November 24th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
O’my from one booklover to another, I feel your pain!!!!! The thought of a new book, the smell, the sitting down and savoring each page……..Although I also understand your issue. I now have to REALLY want and need a book to buy it brand new. I look to make sure my library has not bought it, nor that I can find it used, etc….but still a year, wow you are good.
So before you embark, tell those of us who are still addicted, what books did you buy last night
November 25th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I’m a book addict too, I totally understand, and I support you in your year-long mission. Good luck with it. I did a month of “non-consumption” once and didn’t buy anything except food… it was quite illuminating. A year is a long time — good for you! Luckily you have those 100 unread books at home to work through to keep you distracted from the bookstore!
…I can really relate, I have many, many books, and lots of them are unread too.
Another idea to help you make it though your year, though, is used book stores — if you have books you’re willing to part with, you can earn credit for new-to-you used books… would that count as “buying” if no money is exchanged? The Book Worm in Boulder is great. They give you 1/4 cover price for books brought in, and charge 1/2 cover price for books they sell/trade with credit. And they have many, many books, it’s a fun place to browse in. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25th, 2010 at 10:10 am
I LOVE the Book Worm. One of my favorite spots on the planet! Hmm…not sure if trade is out of the question or not! lol. I know they always ASK me if I have credit and I always laugh and ask, “Really, like who would trade in their good friends like that?” hahahaha!
The books I bought: Clean Food, Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry.
I have more than enough books to read for a year, and the library is oh so good about getting some I have requested in and adding to the collection. It is only hard with new releases cause they can’t do a transfer if it less than a year old!
Luckily there is 400 libraries in a fairly immediate vicinity! lol