What makes YOU happy???

I had a fabulous dinner with a mall marketing friend of mine last night.  She is not very happy that I’m “no shopping in 2011” as the retail numbers from her mall are going to take a direct hit!  But, we did talk a lot about the reasoning behind my efforts for this year.

I told her about how I was shopping one day and said, “I need a new pair of black pants” and purchased a new pair at the Gap.  (It doesn’t hurt that I had to go DOWN a size!!!  Always a great reason to purchase new pants!)   I brought my new purchase home and looked at the other two/three pairs of great black pants that I had in closet and said, “why did I think this pair is any different than the other pairs?”  And the I looked at the black shoes…..and the purses….and the white shirts….and said the same thing.  Why did I think that that new purse would make me happy or feel better?  Because, as we know, things can’t make you feel better about yourself.  Only you can make you feel better about yourself.

So, that’s how I started it.  And why I continue it.  I’m finding that having dinner with my friend makes me feel happy.  Reading that great book I have by my bed makes me happy.  Writing this blog makes me happy.  Working out on the elliptical makes me happy.  Running outside with Buddy (my devoted Golden Retriever) makes me (and him) happy.  Not fighting about money issues with my husband makes me happy. 

So, I’m “redirecting”.  My happiness and yes, purchases.  I’ll still shop (although I didn’t touch January’s allowance money, so it rolls over to February….then March, when my friend Catherine is here escaping from the chilly Canadian weather!!!  We will be shopping at Coconut Point Diane….don’t worry!