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]

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.