Revolutions not resolutions

Last year I accidentally made a new years resolution. Yes, that sounds stupid but did. I decided that I wanted to lessen my impact, shrink my foot print, that sort of thing.

I didn't make a resolution in so many words. 'I won't do this' or, as the taught us in school to be more positive about self denial, 'I will do this' In fact my resolution, such as it is, contained so many exceptions and so much hedging language that it doesn't compress in to a catchy phrase.

I wasn't going to buy any new clothes.

Except...

• Things that would wear out (like a pair of jeans or pyjamas)

• Gear (for camping, not freezing to death and other things with safety concerns)

• Underwear

• Guide Uniform

• Fabric

Everything else has to be second hand. I didn't make it an official resolution because I knew I'd break it. And I did, although at the time I didn't know that unemployment would help me keep on the straight and narrow. Besides it's just a thing I decided in January and not anything I put together for new years.

I sinned in Disney World, for a job interview, and shopping in the sales with my Dad last week. But I'm not giving up my not-resolution. I'm going to try to stick with it, let myself off for the little things and feel smug for at least making a small difference to my consumption levels.

This year it's happened the same way although due to a festive spike in our consumption levels. Christmas gifts have brought me three things: a Wii Fit (thanks Dad!), a pair of trainers (thanks Boyfriend!) and a journal (thanks Grandma!). Which means I'm exercising more, scribbling more, and running again.

I enjoy these things. That is why I'm doing them. And I'm not stressing about how I have to do it all everyday. Well, I'm trying not to. I'm enjoying the movement and enjoying the pen between my fingers. Who knows how long it will last. But I'm thinking that doing something that I love creates slightly more sustainable habits than telling myself that I have to do something.

And let me finish by belatedly wishing you a wonderful New Year.

Like anyone would ask me for advice…

“Dear Auntie Clare,

I love all the wonderful things that people find in thrift shops but I go into my local shop and… it smells, it smells of stale musty old clothes and meat and potato pies. How can I get gorgeous second hand clothes?

Imogen”

“Dear Auntie Clare,

I’m in need of something specific although I just don’t have time to shop for it. A pair of size 12 jeans. I can’t afford organic but I know I should do something to help the environment so I figured charity shop was the way to go. If they aren’t there next week I’m going to go to New Look!

Hippy in a Hurry”

“Dear Auntie Clare,

I’m new at this goth game. What the hell? All the websites say to check second hand stuff but the charity shops near me don’t get any black in ‘til autumn. Don’t say I have to go back to orange.

Randomly Made up Person”

Actually none of them are made up. They are all me at some point in time. I’m quite lucky where I live now but in the past I haven’t had the decent location, or the will power to go into the same stinky shop week after week for one excellent find. I do currently get my pick of a nice selection of non-stinky charity shops.

I volunteer with one. I’m working with Oxfam at the moment to put some of their stock online. Very decent stuff. Not shabby at all. To demonstrate I have stolen some pictures. These are the links to the items so if they are broken then they are sold. A Wedding Dress, a goth top and cute pink t-shirt (I photographed that one) 

Sure you have to wade through some tat and some volunteers are better at listing and taking pictures than others but there is some fantastic stuff up with more to come. As the site hasn’t been shown round the press yet a host of improvements are expected in the next few months. Anyway, I really believe in this project so please check it out.