Some progress....

It's been a fairly slow week in terms of physical culling although there were three significant things that I'd consider noteworthy.

First, a good friend had gained some weight so I happily donated 5 pairs of my jeans to him. He wanted to give me a few of his smaller ones... and normally, I would have salivated at the swap: instead, I got in my truck and drove home, completely forgetting about the "new" duds.

The next item was far more significant: I had received four gift cards, in small denominations, a year ago, as a thank you for some performing that I did. They were donated to me--and varied in amounts--mostly $10 and $15 gift cards for use at some local stores. Normally, I would have dashed right out and spent not only the gift card, but I'm sure I would have walked away with a multitude of other goodies. One was a vintage clothing/collectibles shop (danger! danger!), another was a bookstore, and the others were small boutiques. I offered them to a friend who wasn't interested....and then something amazing happened:

absolutely nothing.

I let them expire. Then I threw them away. A true first for me.

Then the real test:
I needed something at Wal-Mart--something very specific. I walked into the store--they didn't have the item I needed--and I walked right out, empty handed. This might have been some fluke--beginner's luck--but when I needed razors and deodorant and I stopped into the Target. I stood in line, realizing that the only items in my hand were razors and deodorant. There was nothing else I needed...and more importantly...nothing else in that store that I actually WANTED. I've never been able to leave one of those stores without dropping at least $100.

Chalk one up for minimalism! This was just the kind of boost that I needed!