I’ve been smiling to myself reading all the
excited posts on Facebook and Twitter – British high street fashion chain Topshop
has opened in South Africa. A few years ago, this news would have put me in an
excited shopping frenzy. But the last few years have seen my circumstances
change dramatically. And that’s the reason I’m smiling. ☺
I may never have imagined that my credit-crunched budget would have
been a blessing.
But it truly has allowed me to understand what’s really
important and to get my priorities straight.
I was obsessed with fashion! The latest looks, labels and beauty products – I had to have them all! I had to be in the front row of every
catwalk show. Even my boyfriends had to love fashion – I wanted men who would
shop with me. No surprise then, that three of them turned out to be gay! ☺
When I started working as a junior reporter on a newspaper, I was told to cover
an incident of political unrest. That didn’t suit me at all. It was dangerous
and deeply unglamorous. I remember telling my editor that I didn’t do body-bags
– I was all about Louis Vuitton! ☺ While my journalist friends and colleagues
were reporting on the harsh, scary realities of Apartheid South Africa, I was
only interested in the shallow world of glitz and glamour.
Vogue, Harpers and Queen and Harpers Bazaar
were my bibles. And because most of the stuff I wanted wasn’t available in
South Africa, I’d spend ridiculous amount of money travelling to Hong Kong,
London and New York just to shop.
When MAC cosmetics first opened up on the Kings Road in London, I couldn’t wait
to fly over and stand for hours in a queue just to buy their Spice Lip liner –
I bought into all the hype!
I lived for labels. I pined for Prada! It was an on-going, expensive obsession
and I could never get enough.
And then a few years ago, my circumstances
changed and I had to learn to live on a tight budget – not a situation I’d ever
been familiar with. Shopping for luxuries was the last thing on my mind.
I had to learn to survive – on my own for
the first time in my life, and with limited funds. And during this time, I had
a complete shift in awareness. I no longer gave a hoot about ‘stuff’. I
completely lost interest in it.
I needed to make sense of Life, especially my own life, and slaving after the
latest fashion no longer held any appeal.
I needed true soul nurturing and comfort and I instinctively knew I wouldn’t
find it in shopping.
In fact I couldn’t stand to be in a shopping mall – I started to find the
noise, artificial lights and the rows and rows of stuff overwhelming.
So much for the marathon shopper. She went
into retirement. ☺ The last time I happened to be in
Europe was during the winter sales – and I got as far as the front entrance of
Zara, before turning around and getting out of there as quickly as I could.
Of course I still love beautiful things – fine fabrics, beautiful design, pretty
clothes and luxurious body products. I’m still a girl who loves luxury and style! ☺ But I no longer agitate and angst about having more stuff than I
could ever need. And I’m no longer manipulated by trends or glossy magazines
telling me what I “must have”. ☺
Now I find fulfillment in expressing my creativity,
sharing my work, laughter, good food and good times with friends, time spent
with family, being out in nature, sunshine and sitting quietly on my own
enjoying my sea view.
I’m relieved to be off the hamster wheel of an industry that’s designed to keep
one wanting more. Of course there are still gorgeous things that I want to buy
– but they’re not the main focus of my life.
New, shiny stuff is definitely a nice-to-have, but it can’t replace Love, Laughter, Good
Health and wonderful experiences to help me stay tuned to the Good Stuff and Get
My Glow On!
☺
With Love,
