New Years Reflections, Conscious Consumption & The Art of Being Alone

New year, new newsletter. Or something like that.

Happy New Year, friends!

Anyone else… exhausted from the last one? I think we all feel a sense of fatigue, but I don’t want to start this off on a negative note. This is supposed to be a ✨positive space for all✨. So here are a few things I learned over the last year:

• Life didn’t end when I was 15, or 21, or 25 like I thought it might. In fact, statistically speaking, I probably have a decent amount of life to still live. I should probably start taking care of my body because I have to live in this one for the rest of time.

• Growth isn’t always linear; sometimes moving forward feels like a step back.

• Maybe the point of it all is to simply enjoy the passage of time with good people.

• You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish when you realize nobody and nothing is holding you back.

• It’s completely normal and okay to prefer staying in to going out.

Some Happy Moments :)

We’re all feeling ripped off by billionaires and corporations… right?

While we aren’t exactly known for our class consciousness, I think Americans are finally waking up to the absolute robbery that has taken place over the last several years. The price of basic necessities has increased to the point that many of us are majorly re-thinking our budgets and purchasing decisions.

I recently watched Buy Now, a Netflix doc highlighting our culture of unsustainable consumption and the tactics corporations use to keep us in the vicious cycle. Consuming less - and more consciously - was something I wanted to work on this year anyways, but this documentary was the nail in the coffin for me.

Here are some ways I’m telling them to go f*ck themselves 🖕

I recognize that my small acts of protest mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of overconsumption, but it makes me feel like I have a tiny bit of control over where my hard-earned money goes. Maybe these ideas will help inspire you to consume less, or more consciously, this year.

🛍️ Using Buy Nothing & Facebook Marketplace first.

It’s easy to pull up Amazon and order anything you want, but I’ve realized that most of the things I want or need are available secondhand. There’s also something so satisfying about handing cash or transferring a Venmo payment to an individual instead of contributing to Bezos’ billions.

My biggest flex? Furnishing every home I’ve had in my adult life with secondhand furniture. Never have I ever purchased new furniture.

🥕 Buying produce from local markets.

I recognize that this is not an accessible option for everyone, but Seattle has several produce markets that sell the same fruits & veggies for waaaaay cheaper than you could get at the supermarket. Whether it’s getting a few items from the farmer’s market, hitting up the co-op, or going to a small mom-and-pop grocery, it’s money given back to your community instead of big-box-supermarket-that’s-low-key-stealing-from-you.

📚 Supporting the local library.

Now more than ever, public libraries need our support. Libraries are one of the few things that are still free to the public and there’s so much benefit you can get from it. Not only can you check out physical books, but the Libby app allows you to check out ebooks and audiobooks without even leaving the house. I haven’t paid for a book in years, but I’ve read plenty. Also - the library is a great place to get out of the house and work without paying $7 for a cup of coffee. Or print a document if you’re under the age of 30 and don’t own a printer.

👔 Shopping secondhand & repairing the clothing I already have.

I’m not a big clothes shopper to begin with (a blessing to the budget), but almost everything I own now is secondhand. I love the thrill of finding something at a local vintage market or thrift store, but if I’m looking for something specific, Depop usually has it.

Also, I am NOT a seamstress. If you put me in front of a sewing machine I would simply perish. However, I’ve found that a little hand stitch or iron-on patch works wonders to extend the life of clothing that’s frayed or has holes in it.

Bonus: I got a clothes drying rack on Facebook Marketplace for $5 when our dryer was temporarily broken, but since then I’ve been air drying my clothes to hopefully extend the life of my garments.

🚌 Using public transit, biking, or walking before driving.

I’m lucky enough to live in a place where I can pretty much access everything I need from walking, biking, or transit. I’m not perfect and still own a 13-year-old gas-guzzling machine (Who can blame me!? It’s fully paid off and gets me out to the mountains on the weekends!) but I try to use it as little as possible and opt for other transportation options when available. A huge plus is not having to deal with parking.

💖 Being content with what I have.

I am so incredibly privileged to have my needs met and not feel like I’m in survival mode. When I take a second to think about it, almost all of the things that feel like needs are actually wants. I am working to be content and grateful for what I have and want less in general.

The Art Of Being Alone

At this point, I’m known as the solo traveling girlie, the one who’s not afraid to go off and adventure by herself. I think this was always inside of me. I mean, I am pretty much a textbook eldest daughter who’s convinced she can handle anything herself. But you might be surprised to hear that I’ve experienced a great deal of social anxiety for most of my life. For such a long time, I thought I needed to be with people all the time, included in every single plan, and adored by all.

I don’t think it was until I moved into my very own apartment - that I only lived in for 4 months before I got the job that sent me to New Zealand and Australia - that I realized I thoroughly enjoy my own company. Up until that point, I’d always lived with family or roommates, never having space to be completely alone.

Then, when I lived in a van in a foreign country halfway across the world from everyone I knew, I was really alone. People often asked if it was lonely, and to be honest, I felt more alone living with someone else in a vibrant and lively neighborhood of a busy city.

I deeply believe that the only person who is going to look out for you is you. Sure, as humans we need community and the support of others, but at the end of the day, you’re the only one that has to look out for you. It’s crucial to be able to enjoy your own company because sometimes that’s all you’ll have.

I challenge you to take yourself on a solo date this month. Enjoy your own company. Sit with the discomfort if it comes up.

Rad Reads

Here are some books I’ve enjoyed lately.

🫐 The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

💍 A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings

🔥 Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

🤫 What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About by Michele Filgate

If you made it this far…

Thank you for being here! Like, for real. I often convince myself that my thoughts aren’t worth sharing, so I’m excited to get a bit more out of my comfort zone.

Got something you want to chat about or a topic you think I should address in the next newsletter? Just hit the reply button.

💛CJK