thanks giving

November 22, 2010 10 Comments by Maddie

On the way back from work tonight, my usual route met me with its usual, miserable traffic jam. But this time, the cause was different. Instead of the normal volume-related pileup, tonight’s roads were clogged because someone had abandoned his car in the middle of Route 7. I reached, then passed the darkened vehicle eventually, but glancing at it sideways, I didn’t feel one twinge of annoyance. Honestly, I couldn’t really blame the guy.

Because I know what it’s like to feel like cutting and running, too. I’m confined all day by claustrophobia-inducing cubicle walls, y’all. There’s that aforementioned and predictably atrocious commute, plus a no-longer-homey apartment (it hasn’t been the same since my neighbor’s bedbugs invaded my own four walls. Yeah, let’s not talk about that). I have big plans in the works, of course, ones that (fingers crossed) will change all of the above. And I promise you’ll hear about them when the time is right. But until the day my lease is up, I’ve resolved to find inspiration in the parts of my life I still control.

Recently, I’ve found hope in the posts of two new-to-me blogs. At Makeunder My Life, Jess Constable has written about creating a home in the way that Michelangelo created his statue of David. (“It is easy,” he apparently said of sculpting a masterpiece from a boulder. “You just chip away the stone that doesn’t look like David.”) Instead of finding peace in consumption, Jess talks about finding it through “exfoliating” unnecessary possessions, making her home’s trash-to-treasure ratio more favorable by subtracting, not adding. John and Sherry Petersik, over at the very fun home blog Young House Love (represent, Virginia!), seem to share a similar philosophy. It’s encapsulated in this post on living happily with less. And from their (very smart) posts on frugality, I’ve been inspired to start using and enjoying the things I already have—everything from pantry items to that long-ignored Netflix subscription.

I took all of these lessons to heart this weekend, when I filled two boxes with excess books, clothes and DVDs to give away; my countertops and bookshelves heaved a sigh of relief. I made Alice Medrich’s incredible, nut-filled cocoa brownies, which required exactly zero trips to the grocery store (who knew I had an unopened bag of walnuts in the cupboard, and two boxes of Hershey’s cocoa?). I cuddled up with Ted (boyfriend) and Koko (kitten), the loved ones I’m lucky to live with. I dusted off my Netflix queue (instead of heading to the movie theater) and relaxed with a truly marvelous music documentary, Standing in the Shadows of Motown. And I sat outside in the afternoon sun with an old friend, catching up. Nothing was purchased—actually, a lot was relegated to the “donate” pile—and yet I felt like I gained so much. Circumstances may be getting me down right now, but that means it’s even more important to stop striving and coveting, and instead to focus on the things that are already marvelous in the here-and-now. When I pulled some physical and mental clutter aside, small treasures and unassuming workhorses revealed themselves simply and plainly. Makes me wonder what else is hidden here!

So that’s my thanks giving. That, and the Thursday that will soon be spent in sweet home Chicago (see above. Beautiful, right?). So tell me: what are you giving thanks for this year?

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  • http://everybodylikessandwiches.com kickpleat

    Man, I know all about cutting and running too. And I’m sorry to hear about the bb (it’s one of my greatest fears, actually which is why I can’t even type it out). But hooray for clearing out clutter and getting rid of things. I have to do that too. I have too much stuff, too much clutter. It’s making me crazy, so I should just get down to it.

  • http://emmainthekitchen.blogspot.com/ Emma

    We don’t have bed bugs here but we have really huge cockroaches in summer, seriously. They wear jackets.

    Your kitty in the bedclothes! So cute.

    Yeah, it’s good to live in the here and now, feeling good about the simple things. Hope your wishes and plans come true :)

  • http://happyjackeats.blogspot.com Jacqui

    I really enjoyed this post because I can so relate. Ever since my little apartment has started collecting wedding gifts, I’ve started thinking that I don’t need more “stuff” in my life, and that the next step of getting a bigger house to fill up with more “stuff” so that it becomes a vicious cycle isn’t what I want at all. (Unfortunately, we do need a bigger place, if not only because of the stuff, but because the one bedroom/two people/one cat situation is getting out of hand. I love these guys, but I like my space, too.) So I cleaned out a dresser drawer over the weekend, and have been eye-ing my closet but am still kind of scared to dive in. It’s a shame that the holiday to appreciate what we already have is so overshadowed by the holiday that focuses on what we want. Your post is definitely inspiring, though, and I’ll keep it in mind this holiday season, and as we start this new year. Thanks, Maddie!

  • http://topsy.com/www.alittleginger.com/2010/11/thanks-giving/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention thanks giving – a little ginger — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Shannalee , Maddie. Maddie said: finally, a new post! on living with less, a la @JessConstable and @younghouselove: http://www.alittleginger.com/2010/11/thanks-giving/ [...]

  • http://foodloveswriting.com shannalee

    I read this earlier this morning, and at the time couldn’t get over how lovely it was. And Jacqui’s comment too–”It’s a shame that the holiday to appreciate what we already have is so overshadowed by the holiday that focuses on what we want.” Yes.

    Here’s to seeing how full our hands are, now and all year long. Thanks, Maddie!

  • http://IslandEAT.wordpress.com IslandEAT

    Maddie. as usual, you’ve written a beautiful and insightful post. I enjoyed your musings on simplicity, purging (we’ll all keep our fingers crossed about the bed bugs!), and gratitude. Of course, great photos of sleeping Koko and North Michigan Avenue can only make it better.

    I find Thanksgiving to have developed into an all-consuming holiday now, with food indulgence one day, followed by the orgiastic Black Friday shopping in the States. Maybe there should be a trend to simpler meals on Thanksgiving Day with home-made-gift-making the day after? Think about the Quaker hymn, “‘Tis the gift to be simple/’Tis the gift to be free/’Tis the gift to come down to where we ought to be”….

    I hope your trip goes well to the “greater metropolitan Chicagoland area” (I can’t forget the redundant ads from younger days there).

    Thanks,

    Dan

  • http://cravingworthy.com Stephanie

    I spent the morning making a “donate pile” and exfoliating — your post really spoke to me. I’ve spent a lot of time striving and coveting as well, and it hasn’t made me any happier. Gonna spend the day with my best friends at a free museum and take pictures of the beautiful things. Loving your blog!

  • http://www.delishhh.com Delishhh

    Maddie – Great post. I am so sorry about the bed bugs. I can’t imagine. We just moved a few months ago so i got ride of a lot of clutter. But i try to use all my kitchen food items all the time before i go shopping. I go through the pantry and look what i have and try to make something with it. Makes me feel better.

    I hope you had a great thanksgiving. We decided to go to Hawaii instead and relax. . .

  • http://www.sweetamandine.com Jess

    Hey, Maddie. I’ve been thinking about you and your “big plans.” I hope you’re doing well, and I can’t wait to hear about what you’ve got brewing.

  • http://emmainthekitchen.blogspot.com/ Emma

    I hope everything’s going well for you also. Have a lovely Christmas and New Years – hope to see you around soon :)