Memories over Materialism

It has dawned on me recently that the longer I am home the more materialistic I have become. This realisation came when I was recently contemplating replacing my perfectly good IPhone for the latest iteration!

I never knew how materialistic I was during my youth, but with hindsight I always wanted the latest gadget or toy.

When it came to packing for my first round the world trip; I am not exaggerating when I say my bag was packed to its full capacity. It soon became apparent that I didn’t need any of it – It’s truly surprising how little you actually need in life.

I remember running for a train in Vietnam with my full backpack on my back and nearly missing it because I just couldn’t run fast enough!

Image Courtesy of Dawn E Foote

After a month had passed, many of my favourite clothes and excess baggage was either ruined, gifted to locals or just thrown away.

• I started to embrace a non-materialistic lifestyle and I remember loving it!
• I alternated my clothes around washes not appearance
• I couldn’t buy much as I simply had no space for it
• I only used a shared computer to blog
• I only used a my ‘non’ smart phone for emergencies
• I had no jewelry, no expensive sunglasses, no expensive headphones.

Looking back I had very few things of material value at all, I think an old CD player and a fake pair of Oakley’s were the most elaborate possessions.

I was disconnected from the world, yet I never felt more connected with myself and what was around me.

It gave me new perspective and gave me time to read, write and understand myself.

Even when living in Sydney, I had very little of a material value. I think buying a polo shirt, or stretching the budget for a Bondi burger, were the most elaborate purchases I made. I spent the majority of the money I made on actually living and soon learnt that the experience was worth so much more than any possession.

I remember in Fiji swearing that I wouldn’t return to my materialistic ways when I returned, and in all honesty I think I lasted a few months before unknowingly returning to my former ways. I do however question my commercial desires and think do I really need this?

As hard as it’s become in our glorious commercialized world, I implore you to spend what you make on your journey and experience.

Memories and stories last a lifetime.