Since I'm not plunging feet first into a new lifestyle with this concept of being happy with very little and observing what benefits me, as far as where I say I'm going, taking baby steps is a helpful thing. So far I've been making myself go through changes of letting go of the old ways, even if just in small ways. For instance, I couldn't sleep well if there were dirty dishes sitting on the kitchen counter (which hardly ever happened) for fear of a roach infestation. I always wondered how people didn't mind roaches? Now I wonder what I'm so afraid of when it comes to that? I don't like roaches, yes. But should it be such a worry for me that I can't sleep? Not when I could just realize that one night won't do much and even if it did, I can take the proper steps to get rid of them again. So sleep, right?
Another thing I worked on was the cigarette issues I had, no I don't mean I quit but I have made alterations just to teach myself control and flexibility. This is what I mean...for the last 12 years or so I've been rolling my own smokes. Buying the American Spirit tobacco and filters (tubes) to use with my injector, saves a lot of money if you don't mind the work. And once I got good at rolling I could make a carton in about half hour give or take. Well, it was simple to do in Tucson with all the bigger city choices everywhere but in this sleepy little town we're in now, there's only one store that carries the stuff I needed. And that's if they ordered it for me. Sad to say they were slacking a lot putting me under pressure if I'm low on one or the other. So I decided to just give up the whole filter part of it and only need the tobacco and some rolling papers. Even then, if they're out of A.S. then I will gladly use another brand. Much less stress now and I'm one step closer to quitting smoking all together. Because you can't drop something you're not holding. Oh yeah, I also make myself go into the bathroom with the fan on trying to keep the smoke out of the rest of the house, even though my dog hates it when he always wants to be with me.
And get this one, I also decided to let go of the added stress of my hair. Having to brush it, putting it up into a ponytail when cleaning or on a windy day, taking so much longer in the shower and so on. So I chose to shave my head and donate 10inches of hair to Locks of Love. Now I look like all the other sailors on the base where Paul works. I love it like this.
One more thing I'm in the process of changing is my wardrobe. I no longer feel the need to express myself through clothes, no I'm not gonna go naked, I'm switching to wearing a tibetan monks robe. How simple is that? I don't have to worry about this matching with that or saying are those pants clean? Ah yes, living simply. And then I can donate what I do have but don't need, it's a win-win situation.
I've noticed that when I'm on or near a military base everyone thinks I have a shaved head because I'm military. Yet in other cities with no military influence around people tend to assume I'm a cancer patient, one guy asked me if I'm getting chemotherapy. Of course I like to have fun and tell everyone that it's because I lost a bet! insert smiley here. I'm guessing that once my shaved head is in a monks robe, everyone will think something completely different no matter where I am. Like Paul McCartney said of his late wife Linda, "She liked to be different." and I'm cool with it too.
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