Just Do It
October 31, 2025
New Year, Same Me
January 2, 2026The Call to Less
A Christmas Edition
I stand in line, picking at a callous.
The line moves so slowly, yet I don’t mind. I inch forward. Glancing down at the bags I hold in one hand and the receipt in the other, I feel sweat gathering in my palms. Warmth creeps into my face. How had I done this thing?
“Next! How can I help you?”
I swallow and step forward. The poor, overworked salesperson behind the counter ducks to replace the receipt paper roll.
I set my bags on the counter. They clunk. “I’m here to return these items.”
Her greying head emerges along with a strained expression. Her lipstick and red bauble earrings match perfectly.
“Is there anything wrong with them?” She raises her drawn-on eyebrows.
“No, nothing at all,” I quickly explain.
Should I tell her the truth or make up a convenient lie?
The truth. It’ll be good for me.
“The thing is I overspent, and my kids don’t really need all this, so I’m bringing it back. I’m sorry for the hassle.”
Her face relaxes and a tinge of understanding creases her eyes, “I actually admire that.” As she scans each item, a strange, warm relief blooms within me. It’s like the feeling I have when I fold all the laundry (without checking my phone in the middle) or finish running a (very slow) mile. Relief. A sense of accomplishment. Exhilaration even.
I turn and walk away, holding less stuff.
I’m not sure about you, but I like to shop. Tjmaxx and HomeGoods are my absolute weakness. I like to mindlessly stroll along, sniff the candles and feel the plush throws. It feels like a hobby that requires no effort. Yet it’s a dangerous one, not only to our bank account but also to the order of our home. I’ve used shopping to numb, to occupy my time and to be an escape. However, I honestly can’t handle much stuff laying around. I have a hard time tolerating clutter and yet I sometimes feel the need to bring it into my home and life because I like to think that this shiny, new thing will be different.
Now let me clarify, I’m not going to tell you I’ve purchased all my Christmas gifts handmade from Etsy or that I’m only allowing one item per child, but I am happy to say that I think I’m getting better at less. I think I’m realizing that I’m better with less, fitter with less and more able to be generous if I have less.
As the boxes arrive, I hope to hold myself to the same standard and say, “is this necessary?”
Does this fit into the category of: something they want, something they need, something to play with, something to read?
If not, I’ll once again take the walk of shame and return that which we do not need. In hopes that what I'm really giving myself and my children is the gift of less.
“The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.”
— Henry David Thoreau, Life in the Woods
