I doubt that I’ve ever made a New Year resolution that I haven’t broken within the first couple of weeks of January.
But this year, I’m determined to keep my resolution for the entire 12 months.
I resolved that for every item we buy (not counting routine daily living supplies like food, shampoo, or toilet paper) I will donate two items to charity.
I went to the hardware store and bought three brand new trash barrels and a box of heavy duty black plastic liners. I labeled the barrels with the names of the three organizations I’ve decided to donate to for the year:
Salvation Army
Goodwill
Circle of Concern
By the end of the year, I hope to have donated barrels and barrels of useable items to the three charities I’ve chosen. I will be able to get my car into the garage for the first time in four years. I will be able to organize my basement and actually find things down there when I need to. I will be able to see the clothes in my closet and know that there is nothing there, I wouldn’t be able to, or want to, wear.
I’m off to a great start already. January is almost over and the barrels all have something in them. I plan to document the process in my blog for the next year.
The most interesting result is my thought process when I buy something. I actually stop to think about what two things I will need donate as a result. It hasn’t stopped me from buying things I really want. But, it has stopped me from buying impulsively. I’m betting that the closer I get to December the more cautious I will become in my shopping.