Give it Up...

[fajrdrako]

I read a nicely-written book: Give It Up: My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less by Mary Carlomagno. It caught my eye because I love her name - it's the Italian translation of "Charlemagne" - and because I'm into themes of simplicity. Uncluttering metaphorically as well as literally.

It was, in fact, a delightful read. But... useless. The theme: Mary Carlomagno gave up one thing each month for a year. It wasn't cumulative: she gave up smoking, for example, for a month, and then went back to smoking. It was like giving things up for Lent, which is what inspired her - not giving things up permanently.

Then look at the things she gave up. I couldn't give up any of them, I don't think - and if I did, who would notice the difference? She gave up alcohol, newspapers, shopping, dining out, taxis, cell phones and television. I don't have alcohol more than a couple of times per year. I seldom read newspapers, especially since they have become sensationalist entertainment. I shop when I must, but not often. Certainly not every month, unless we're talking about groceries, which she wasn't. Taxis? I can't recall the last time I took a taxi - probably during my last trip to Stratford. I walk. I take the bus. I go places with friends in their cars. I only take taxis when travelling. I don't have a cell phone. It isn't any kind of virtue here - I'm just not into those things. That leaves television - and I wouldn't want to be without my fannish favourites; don't have time to watch much else anyway. Eating out? My favourite and most extravagant pleasure! But I like to think I don't do it in an extravagant way.

But I could give up eating out for a month. Giving up comic books? That would be a real challenge, and I don't plan on trying it. But she doesn't talk about that. I suppose I could give up libraries, or visiting friends, or (shudder) reading and writing Livejournal - but I can't think of any reason I should! Just to prove I could? I love these things, and I do them because I love them. I think that's a terrific reason to do them.

All in all, her choices of 'what to give up' reflected a lifestyle and tastes very unlike mine, and a general sense of life in New York that seems pleasantly foreign to me, like reading about Nick and Nora Charles, or Dorothy Parker.

Despite all this, it was fun to read Mary Carlomagno's commentary on life and the things she does. There's a friendly reflectiveness to it all. Very readable.

Comments

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I don't know how much I could give up and not just end up sitting on my sofa, staring at the wall :D

Smoking yes - and am trying. And that will be forever when I do.

We don't subscribe to newspapers/magazines - but I read online. And seeing as it's an election year coming up, I won't be stopping. MUST HAVE POLITICAL NEWS.

Internet? Not gonna happen :D (especially since hubby and I both work via it)

Cell Phone? It's my *main* phone - and I get about 2 calls/week, make about 3 :D

Eating out? We've already pared down to about 3 times/month, one of those being before fishclub meeting when we meet up w/ friends.

We've simplified our lives hugely over the years, to our benefit. But what's left is the stuff we ENJOY, ya know?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. I think each and every person has to find his or her own balance in life, and I think a lot of people (myself pretty much included) have too much clutter in their lives - doing things they don't need to do out of habit rather than desire.

But I don't see any value in giving up pleasures for the sake of just giving up pleasures, and - except for smoking - these are not bad things in themselves. It isn't bad to keep up with the news (or do crossword puzzles) with newspapers - and as an old student of print journalism, I'd hate to see print journalism disappear, however much I may complain about the cheapening of its news with superficiality and ephemerality. (My, aren't I into the hifalutin' words tonight!)

And aren't cell phones - mostly - good things?

There are things I want to cut out of my life, and I'm thinking about them as I plan my New Year's Resolutions - something I always do with great care and glee. Things like procrastination, stress, anger, fear, laziness, indecision, being overextended and over-busy. I think I have my material pleasures pretty much where I want them - manageable and valuable to me. I hope that doesn't sound smug.

And yes, I sometimes have more library books checked out than I can manage, but it's difficult to think of reading as something I should cut down on! On the contrary, I want more time to read. Wouldn't that be nice?

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

We buy books, because we re-read. (boy, do we re-read!) But we don't buy unless we're pretty darned sure we'll like it - and any we DON'T keep go to half-price shop.

Cell phone? though I don't use it much, I very much want to have it when I'm driving Dallas roads alone at night.

I could work on eliminating procrastination - however? I have found that I do my best work when it's RIGHT BEFORE THE DEADLINE. I'm 45 - I know my working habits by now :D

I miss having a Sunday newspaper, but do NOT miss the huge amounts of JUNK that were bundled with it - adverts, etc. SO MUCH! (and the dogs think it's fun to tear it up)

Simplicity is good, but if you've already achieved a happy level of it, doing more is just obsessive :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We buy books, because we re-read. (boy, do we re-read!)

Yes! Rereading is an exquisite pleasure all its own. Some books deserve it. Others demand it. And what a wonderful thing that is.

Yes, right before deadline is a good time for anything. Inspiration kicks in because of that extra jolt of panic. I remember once as an undergraduate writing an essay on Louis Riel and submitting it several days early. I was proud at the time, but then got it back - my lowest mark of the year. I should have waited till deadline.

I like to save obsession for things that are worth obsessing over.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

On the contrary, I want more time to read ...

Believe me, I feel the same way when it comes to reading!

As far as my current job is concerned, I am tired of the 3-4-hour daily commute. But buying a car probably will not help very much, especially at this time of year -- I have seen too many traffic jams. The best solution will be to move. I don't see that happening until I can afford to pay at least double what I am paying now; that won't happen till I have the current debt monkey off my back. If my job disappears before then ... the move will be proved unnecessary, won't it?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I share your worries about debts and time. I wish I had more rays of hope to offer either of us! I find that having an iPod helps with the commuting when I'm stuck on the bus - have you tried audio-books? Next best thing to reading. Well, almost. I don't get quite the same satisfaction from it, but it's a different kind of pleasure in itself.