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

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it depend on the purpose you have for eliminating products/habits? Personaly the motivation of being less of environmental burden. That is a reason I've eaten strictly vegetarian for years (now I do eat meat on occasions). But sometimes you can go to far. Your good and considered reason can get caught up with depressed feelings of guilt. So did I live for a winter without heating, because I tought I wasn't worth it thinking of all the people who lived in colder areas without heating. When I was home I sat in a corner with several sweaters and and a blanket around me. I believe no that I was going to far.
An other, very pragmatical reason I live frugal, is that I just have little money. My two big extravanceses are my internet connection and my garden. Oh and my gym. But sport is good for you isn't it? It is certainly on of the things in my depression-management and I have decided that I should not cut down on that. Oh, an other extravagance, I go for drinks (1 or 2) once a week. I don't go out (music or lectures for free).
I do have a cellphone (but prepaid, so I only pay for the calls I make, no subscription fees) but no TV.

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

You've put your finger on it: it's the motivation. When I cut down on spending on particular things, it's because there are better things to do with the money. If I reduce the amount of television I watch (NO WAY am I going to give up "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood") it's because there are better things to do with my time, like practising folk fiddle. Or sorting out the house. I too have a prepaid mobile at the moment and wouldn't be without it, because when I haven't had one I have from time to time been stranded in the rain, with heavy shopping and a mile walk home. I don't cut down on heating (one gas fire in one room) because otherwise I get too many colds. I don't cut down on meat because if I do I get anaemic and if I take iron supplements I get constipated

*fantasises about offering to Ms Carlomagno to swap lives for six months and then see what she says*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

it's because there are better things to do with the money.

Very true.

NO WAY am I going to give up "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood"

Absolutely! I don't watch TV casually; I watch it to be sociable with friends, or because it's a fannish activity - something I want to talk about and write stories about - and sometimes (but rarely) out of curiosity. I think a lot of people think of television as a time waster, but it's only a time waster if you use it that way.

Swapping lives with Mary Carlomagno is a great idea. I could see if I could cope with New York, and if she could cope with Ottawa. (I bet she'd still take taxis!)

Actually I'd just like to trade names with her. Do you think I could just steal her name, like Captain Jack Harkness?

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

I don't see why you shouldn't nick her name.

As for swapping lives: if she found herself in Dukinfield (try finding it on Multimap. Hint: you'll get there faster if you go to the UK map and type the name in) she certainly would take taxis. I really don't see her traipsing up hills in the rain or waiting for buses that sometimes com.e late and sometimes don't come at all

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

And I really don't know what she'd make of my "energy efficient house" aka classic Northern two-up-two-down!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I really don't know what she'd make of my "energy efficient house" aka classic Northern two-up-two-down!

Oh - I love those!

My apartment is not exactly a model of simplicity but I'm working on it. Most of the clutter is books. My comic books are not cluttered at all, they are very neatly and mostly-invisibly arranged, but keeping many thousands of comic books in a small apartment is an interesting exercise in logistics. Especially since I want the place to appear uncluttered.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't see why you shouldn't nick her name.

Me neither. It's a great pseudonym.

buses that sometimes come late and sometimes don't come at all

Isn't that all buses everywhere?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it depend on the purpose you have for eliminating products/habits?

Whether it's worth doing, you mean? Yes. At its most superficial, I think it's an interesting exercise in perception. Carlomagno did it to get a theme for a book.

Personaly the motivation of being less of environmental burden.

Which I approve and applaud. But as you say, you've been vegetarian for years - I'm not sure being vegetarian for a month would do a lot to help the environment. On the other hand, it would be good for me to try it, just to see how I felt. I really do beleive that being vegetarian is better for my health (and the environment too). As well as being conducive to doing yoga better.

Yes, it sounds to me as if living without heat is going too far. There are those who can do it even in Ottawa - though how they'd survive the days of -40C I'm not sure.

Having little money (and debt) is part of the reason I'm frugal. I like to think that even if I had a lot of money (nice thought) I'd spend it on things that enhanced my life, and were necessary and important. In other words, I wouldn't live much differently than I do now. I'd tell myself not to buy more books than I have time to read.

I agree that exercise is important, and doing things that prevent depression are important.