Almost seven years ago I moved to NY to take a job with Del Rey at Random House. After two years I was ready for a change, and took a job with Stackpole Books located in Mechanicsburg, PA. Barely noticed the difference… After four years in PA I really needed a change again, and my line was growing to such an extent that it made sense all around for me to move back to NY. Doing so meant giving up a three bedroom apartment in a new building with my own washer and dryer and cramming my life into a studio on the Upper East Side, and I’ve never been happier.
To reach this state of bliss, however, I first had to come to terms with the amount of material possessions I had accumulated. To my horror I realized I had become a consumer. I bought because it was on sale, or because it looked neat, or because I had the room, or because I was bored and the endorphin surge distracted me from bigger issues I didn’t want to deal with. What really shook me was when I found myself asking ‘How can I move back to NY when I have all this stuff?’ How long had I let my life be dictated by inanimate objects? Once I recognized what had happened I had this incredibly liberating experience of donating and selling off the majority of the things I owned. Even books! At first it was scary, but the more things I got rid of the more I enjoyed it. The release of endorphins from buying pale in comparison to the feeling I got waving goodbye to furniture, clothes and knick-knacks.
Now I live in the heart of one of the most vibrant cities in the world and feel more at home than I ever have before. I own fewer things and am richer for it…and apparently auditioning to write for a greeting card company, but you get my drift.