Give It Up!

 

Excerpt from Give it Up! My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less by Mary Carlomagno

Published by HarperCollins/William Morrow Copyright 2006

Like most people, Mary Carlomagno was stressed out, overscheduled, and tripping over the clutter of her days—until she decided to take control and simplify her life.  Each month she renounced one thing: alcohol, shopping, elevators, newspapers, cell phones, dining out, television, taxis, coffee, cursing, chocolate and multitasking.  During the course of the year, Mary took stock of her life, discovered what was really important, and gained a deeper appreciation for the world around her. 

Give it Up! chronicles Mary’s life-changing experiences and provides a commonsense blueprint for anyone looking for a fresh start and a new outlook.  It’s about simplifying your life, cherishing every moment of it, and celebrating what is truly important.

We must be the change we wish in the world.

--Mahatma Ghandi

When I set out to write this book, my intention was to eliminate unnecessary facets of life; in essence to determine what I could live without.  Accustomed to the frantic pace of the world around me, I had a nagging feeling that something was missing.  Each day was much the same, providing the everyday routines all dependent on the same rituals.  Reading the entire newspaper was out of habit, not out of need.  Habitually checking voicemail and cell phone was more than just a convenience, it had become an obsession.   Shopping had reached an all time high, where multiple versions of the same item were purchased again and again without my realizing that that item already hung in my closet at home in other colors.

I was in need of a change.

One morning, while trying to decide which pair of shoes to wear, I was behind schedule and was clearly going to be late for work.  To make matters worse, while reaching for my black sling backs, an avalanche of designer shoe boxes hit me squarely on the head.  For some people, a subtle signal can lead to a change in life; others need a stronger message.  In my case, it was being literally hit over the head with my own shoes. 

This was my wake up call. 

Later that morning, I plunked down $4.20 for a mocha grande at my local coffee shop.  I reached for my cell phone to check voice mail and made a mental note of the meetings planned for that day; I wondered how my life got so complicated, with too many distractions; too much stuff and too much technology demanding my attention and taking my focus.

Would it be possible to live without the designer coffee, the Kate Spade bags, the technology that were a part of my everyday existence?  Could stripping away some of those items and habits make me appreciate what I have?  I created a plan.  Each month for one year, I would choose one of my favorite things and give it up, cold turkey, for one month.  This would become my year of learning to live better with less.