It's been a strange week this week. Having had a lovely holiday and feeling quite rested we came back to London and started to settle back into London life. I felt a bit overwhelmed to be honest by the size of my ironing pile and the layer of dust/dirt all over the house, plus all the tasks I needed to do to get back on top of things. In the scheme of things, these are all very insignificant, but were none the less draining me of mental energy.
As the week wore on, cupboards were replenished (a little too much to be honest), the ironing was tackled, completed and put away, the house was swept and mopped and felt much cleaner (downstairs anyway) and gradually I started to feel the weight of it all lifting. All was going okay but then I found out some rather horrific information about something that happened on our street a good few years ago now that upset me. I'm getting used to being in possession of this knowledge, but it has unsettled me a little. I also took note of some pretty hard hitting blog posts this week and it has made me think about how lucky we are to be able to put food on the table and treat ourselves to 'things' or holidays from time to time. Having considered all of this I was left with an underlying sense of unease, I got to thinking that maybe I need to make a few changes. Perhaps I've been taking a lot for granted for a while now and I need to get real and think about my lifestyle choices. At least we have choices.
Yesterday, we took our daughter to the local Westfield shopping centre for her to spend some money given to her by her grandparents whilst on holiday last week. She'd been looking forward to it all week. So we went and she bought some lovely things, guided by mum (I hate to see her waste her money on things that are not good value, although I do realise that this is part of growing up and learning about money.) I also bought her a couple of things that she really wanted too, like a 'onesie', although not of the animal variety. What has this got to do with anything you might ask. Well, as I passed by Waitrose, there were some volunteers handing out leaflets about the local food bank and I took one. I'd been curious about where there is a local food bank since doing the 'Live for 5 days on £1 a day Challenge' and since I started reading A Girl Called Jack's blog. The required information fell into my hand. It must have been a sign. Maybe it is time I gave something to people who really need it and are struggling in the now, to feed their children and pay their bills. A few pounds per week from me to buy a few bits and pieces whilst I can, and then send them to the food bank, shouldn't break the bank and might help someone somewhere.
On a more personal level, I read an article in one of yesterday's newspapers about the author of the book 'The Fast Diet' and it made me think about how I would like to lose some weight. After the 'Five Days Challenge' I had all good intentions of possibly trying the 5:2 fasting diet, but I then got back to normal and put it all to the back of my mind and put a few pounds back on into the bargain. It came back to the forefront of my mind yesterday, and I think that from this week I'm going to try it out and see if I can stick to it for a while and get any results. It will be my own version as I don't have the book. I won't be banging on about it here all the time, but I might create the odd related post. It's something I feel I need to at least try, just for me. If it doesn't work, so be it.
The third major influence in recent days/weeks was reading the book 'No Impact Man' which I am posting a review about in the next few days. I finished reading it whilst away and it did really get me thinking about our lifestyle and attitude to waste, food, spending money, etc. We already live reasonably frugally, try not to waste food and recycle a lot of things. I often buy things from charity shops rather than new although not so much recently and grow some of my own food and make some of my own clothes, but there are lots of areas of our lives where we are perhaps profligate with our resources. I'm not suggesting that I'm going to give up spending money altogether, but I do feel a need to slow things right down and be a bit more considered and restrained in my spending and lifestyle habits. Running out of money last month gave me a bit of a wake up call and it has made me really give it some serious thought. Where I do spend, I'm going to try to spend my money in different ways too and spread it around a little more amongst local shops and traders trying to make an honest living. They deserve it.
So, I've made a few decisions today. I hope I can stick to them and feel like I'm in a better place. Wish me luck.
Oh I feel for you reading this.
ReplyDeleteThe housework - gets me down all the time.
Ironing - have been known to re wash the whole lot just to get rid of the dried out ironing pile ... ironing pile sorted ! was such a giggle & made friends laugh.
I can't imagine what you've found out but it's obviously upset you terribly. I find that Blogging about upsetting things helps enormously.
I think you are being very hard on yourself. I think little changes like collecting for the food bank is great.
I had to stop three direct debits to charity last year & felt bad but at the time couldn't afford it. Volunteering at the shop gives me an enormous sense of well being - but I have the time to do it.
Some people seem to give give give but I feel they are driven. I suppose we could all do more but don't forget some do nothing.
You sound like a sensitive soul and I'm sure you will feel better by taking a small action but don't beat yourself up. We can't solve the world's problems and shouldn't feel guilty by what we have been given by luck.
There are some Bloggers who have incredibly hard lives. Just leaving a kind comment is supporting them, I assure you. To some it is a life line knowing that someone cares.
I started the fast diet but had to put on hold as the last two months were so stressful. Perhaps I'll start again or just cut down. We spend an enormous amount on groceries.
I hope you feel a little better why not get out for a walk and enjoy being in the moment ? xx
Yes, I think I've just had a particularly bad week and maybe I am being a bit hard on myself, but it won't hurt to cut back a little on what I eat and give a little back instead of being so self absorbed.
DeleteI admire you for doing your charity work. It sounds like a lot of fun too.