What We Say No To

I bought some underwear last month.

My goal last year was to not buy any new clothes. I was looking to save money, and the reality is that I have plenty of clothes already. So my resolution for 2017 was not to spend any money on new clothing.

I did it.

When 2018 rolled around, I was happy with what the prior year's discipline had taught me. I learned to make do with what I already had. I became more resistant in the face of temptation: to grab a souvenir I didn't really need or spend money just because the word "sale" graced an email promotion. 

I finally broke my new clothing fast by buying some underwear at Target, because hey - when you need 'em, you need 'em. But I'm still not back to my old ways of seeking out a deal or filling my closet.

More importantly, I've decided to keep abstaining from certain things. I fast on Mondays now. I've unsubscribed from a lot of e-commerce newsletters. And rarely do I stock my fridge or pantry with sweets or empty calories. 

It certainly matters what you say yes to in life. But take stock of what you say no to as well. What won't stand. What doesn't matter. What shouldn't belong. What you can let go of.

When we say no to the things we don't need, we free ourselves for the things we really want.