Seven hits home.

If you haven't read my last two posts about Jen Hatmaker's book 7: An Experimental Mutiny against Excess, this post won't make much sense to you, so take a moment to read them if you can.

I started typing my takeaways from the book and LO AND BEHOLD I had 7 takeaways without even meaning to. This book must have some sort of seven jinx on it. Anyway, while I have no desire to do the kind of experiment on myself that Jen did (nor would she say I needed to), I have started thinking about parts of my life differently. So, here they are (in no particular order):

I've started recycling more and buying products that require less recycling all around.
I've recycled my whole life, but I'm getting a little more serious about it. Pre-7, I would throw away a yogurt container because I was too lazy to rinse it out, or I would throw away a piece of paper because I was too lazy to walk the extra five steps to the recycling bin. Those days are over. I'm also thinking more about avoiding having so much recycling altogether. For example, I buy yogurt in individually packaged containers, but each of those packages contains a lot more plastic than one large container of yogurt that I could take an extra 30 seconds to spoon into tupperware. When did an extra 30 seconds become such an inconvenience? Sheesh! So far, I'm still buying the individual containers because I can't find the same flavors in the large containers, but I am buying some other items in bulk and divvying them up myself. I'm also trying to use reusable bags when I remember (old habits die hard). I'm not ready to compost or wash my clothes in vinegar or anything, but it's a start.

I've decided not to buy any clothes for myself or my family unless it's a need...for I don't know how long.  I have a closet full of clothes. Clothes that fit. Clothes that work. Clothes that are cute enough. I don't need more. Not like other people do. I must admit, though, that just DAYS after making this decision, I had to return something to Target and found myself wandering around the clothing department, just to see if anything cute was on sale. Knowing I wouldn't buy it, I still tried on three shirts and a pair of pants. Didn't buy them, but wanted to. Now the tough part is figuring out how to help those who need basics like clothes with the money I'm not spending on mine.

I want to continue giving stuff away and organizing regularly, traveling light so I'm not weighed down by stuff, stuff, stuff. But I also want to give away with a purpose when I can. Instead of just giving to Salvation Army (which is fine), I want to consider if there's a person or ministry or group that may need or want that very item. We keep a box in the basement of give away stuff along with a piece of paper for an ongoing itemized list, and so far, that's worked for corralling the excess.

Whenever possible, I'm using tupperware instead of Ziploc bags and plates instead of paper towels. One day I'll get to cloth napkins, but I'm just not there yet. Since I run my dishwasher every day anyway, using tupperware is really a no-brainer. And putting something on a plate instead of a paper towel might take an extra two seconds, so really, there's no contest. 

I like the concept of the 7 pauses to pray, but don't think it's for me. However, I'd like to do something like it--maybe 3 pauses a day (as many alarms as my old school phone can set) to pray. I really need to think through how this will work practically so that I actually do it, but I think it'll anchor my mind and heart throughout the day and keep me focused on what matters.

Media. I need less of it. I'm not really a media junky, but I want it more than I think. I almost never watch TV and when I do, it's on hulu where I can fast forward to the exciting parts and watch it on my own time. But I check Facebook too much and read too many blogs and check my email a ridiculous number of times a day. The other night, I unplugged for an hour and was amazed by how much I accomplished (read a chapter of a book and had a long, quality conversation with an old friend). Afterward, I was going to "quickly" check email and blog and voila! 30 minutes passed before I knew what hit me. Jen suggests blocking off an hour a day to returning emails and checking social networking sites rather than checking in multiple times a day. I'd like to try that.

I'm trying to buy local whenever I can. In the book, Jen voices her (and my) frustration over the "buy local" thing: if you want to buy local, you're often spending an insane amount on a handful of almonds. If you buy cheap, you're usually not getting organic or local, and if you buy organic, you're usually not getting cheap and not necessarily getting local. No easy answers there. But one way I've found to buy a little more locally is to order a veggie box from Freshfully each week. Super easy. You order online. $25 for a box that feeds 2-4 people. They ship to a nearby location for free, and you pick it up on Fridays (just have to order by Wed. afternoon). They also include recipes for how to cook with, say, radishes, which is good for people like me. I get my first box this week, so I'll let you know how it goes!

The biggest challenge for me is figuring out how much excess I have so I know what and how to give away more. For example, I can't easily calculate how much I saved by NOT purchasing something. And I feel like if I save money on shopping then I'll probably spend a little more by buying local food, so it'll all come out in the wash. But no use getting caught up on exact details. My heart's in the right place, and my habits are starting to follow, so I trust that God will lead me to give when and how and however much I'm supposed to.