Ok, I readily admit that the room above does not look very "zen" or organized. BUT, I promise you that it is. During the day time the whole room lights up so well, and that cluttered patio becomes a balcony garden with plants all over the place. Couple that with the animals and my apartment is just SO full of LIFE! I love it that way. There are cages (not prisons - more like homes) for the animals everywhere instead of furniture we'd only use if company came over. And we don't have many possessions because most of our money goes to the animals. But I LIKE it this way.
The reason I've brought this up is because my dad asked me today what I wanted for my birthday. I only have one thing I'd like for my birthday and that's a bicycle. Well, there's a perfectly good, old and used bike here. It just needs new tires. So I asked for new tires for this used bike as my birthday gift. "Why don't you just let me buy you your own bike?" my dad asked. - "Because we don't have room for another one, Dad. And this one is perfectly good. It's still in great condition it just needs new tires."
"Well, fine. But what about new clothes? Don't you need shoes or clothes?"
"No, Dad. I have all those things. I only need my two pairs of shoes - work shoes and dress shoes. And all of my old clothes still fit."
"But don't you want new clothes?"
"No, Dad. That's not necessarry. If you REALLY want to get me something more than tires, buy me some toys for the birds or pay for one of the bunnies to get fixed. We've been needing those things recently."
"But that's not for YOU, that's for the animals."
"Yes, but the animals are what make me happy and I can't always afford to give them everything they want all the time. If you buy things for the animals, it will be like buying things for me. It will make me happy."
"Well, why don't you get rid of some of the animals. Then you could afford to buy more things for the ones you keep."
"Dad, you're missing the point."
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As you can see, my dad doesn't seem to understand the idea that I don't want "stuff." I appreciate his thoughtfullness, but I don't want things that are going to take up space in my apartment. I like having "life" in my space, not "things." The animals are like my children and I love taking care of them and spending time with them. Honestly, all I want for my birthday is bicycle tires. And donations sent to Save a Death Row Dog. It's a rescue group that I've been volunteering with lately and they are all so awesome. They have a number where you can call and donate any amount you want - $1, $5, $300 - to the store where they get all of their dog supplies from. I've had a message with the number to the store and an explanation that says if anyone would like to gift me something for my birthday to please donate to the dogs - they need it more than I do - posted on my facebook page for a while now, and so far no one has donated. I don't think people understand that I really DONT want anything for my birthday. Christmas will probably end up going the same way. Every year I go through this with my family. Does anyone else have this problem?
i am working towards, but not yet fully embracing of the place where i find i'd like to not receive gifts. it sounds terribly selfish; i have soooooo much already. here the holidays are coming, and i'm thinking to myself, geez, i'd really like one of those such-and-such, or a new *blank*, the old one is in pieces... and really, i'm getting along fine with the one that's falling apart, but at SOME point possessions need maintenance or replacing, and i *wish* i didn't want these things in my life. i guess i've just grown accustomed and complacent to having my life filled with clutter and stuff. but i *do* lean more towards wanting less than nearly everyone else on both sides of our family, i'd say... like you, i only need a couple pairs of shoes and i have less than 30 shirts in my closet (compared to dh's 200+. no joke). dh says i'm a minimalist. he says it like its a bad thing, but i am always pleased about it. ;)
ReplyDeletei'm finding as i grow that i'm more into quality than quantity. i'd *much* rather have one of something that will last forever than 30 that will wear out and produce non-degradable garbage in a short while.
it's an inspiring post. i think it's wonderful to only want new bike tires and things for the pets, and donations for charity. i'm totally with you on this one.