For the last two years I have been exploring with the idea of "less is more": Less clothing, less items, less calories. So this year, when I returned home from visiting my parents at Christmas and took a look around at my 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment that would need to be packed up and moved to a smaller 2 bedroom 1 bath, I decided it was time to downsize my belongings again.
I entered my 3rd bedroom and began to pack up the yarn, sewing projects, book, when I rediscovered that my large bookshelf was dying a slow death. It had been badly damaged by the last move and was wedged into the corner of the room to be held up by the wall. Any moving would result in it crumpling. Visions of having to cram all of my beloved books into a spouse shared office space with the two small bookshelves I had left set up a challenge I could not resist. It was time. I would cut down on the books I was keeping and not buy any new books in the new year!
This was brilliant. No new physical books. I have an audible account I already pay monthly on, a kindle account, a nook account, and two library overdrive accounts. Surely I can get everything I need digitally. And anything I really want I can get at the end of the year. Any book worth moving for an 8th time (yes, 8 moves in 9 years!) would still be on my shopping list next Christmas.
Two weeks into my project I discovered it was going to be much more difficult than I thought. I also realized that my challenge was similar to those others had take on with their 2016 resolutions. It involved self-restraint (like dieting) and saving money (hopefully). So I decided to share the experience with anyone that cares to read on. Hopefully my story will encourage you to try new challenges, or at least a few new books.
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