When it comes down to it, you should always ask yourself “Do I really need this?”
I myself have a BIG problem with remembering to do this. My addiction to buying, buying, buying has lead me to an overflowing room filled with stuff, stuff and more stuff (mostly clothes, I admit).
It’s relieving to know that this is not just a personal problem of mine. I have been in my fair share of teenage bedrooms to know that I am not the only one with this compulsive shopping addiction and an array list of “needs”. What I am realizing is that a lot of us tend to forget that all this “must have” stuff are honestly just temporary phases. We end up not really needing them at all, and sometimes even forgetting about them.
This all came clear to me a few nights ago when my dog came into the house with a familiar, yet god forsaken smell following her- skunk.
Not only was the smell horrific and practically unbearable, but it was 3:30AM when this abominable incident happened, which meant I had t-minus four hours to be up to get ready to make a last-minute appearance on Good Day Columbus.
Horrified and now completely discouraged, I had no idea what I was going to do. The spray had gotten directly on my dog and she had scurried through the house just in enough time for our entire place to reek of skunk smell. From past experiences, I have learned that this rancid odor sticks to EVERYTHING in its path. All the furniture, all your clothes, and even your own body start to immediately stink up.
Knowing this, I trapped myself in my bedroom hoping it was the most uninfected room in the house. Unfortunately, I could hardly fall asleep because all I could think about was how I was going to manage to even attempt to get ready in the morning.
After taking over an hour to fall asleep, I woke up at 7:30 A.M. to find out the smell had gotten worse. I could only imagine how bad my clothes, makeup, body and hair smelled. Thankfully, before I had drifted off, I decided to text one of my close friends in hopes she would wake up in time to help me. Good thing I did this because I woke up to a text from her saying I could come over and use whatever I needed. Frantically, with only an hour to get ready and not knowing how bad anything around me or on me smelled, I got up and knew that the longer I stayed in this skunk polluted house the worse everything was going to smell. I packed a bag full of clothes that I was supposed to bring to the set, along with my contour kit, shoes and purse. I got to her house and before even walking into the door, she warned me I was going to have to get into the shower, scrub myself and wash my hair. Everything reeked, along with all the stuff in the bag that I had packed for the set. My best friend ended up coming through and lending me everything I needed that morning. From her shampoo, shower and soap to her clothes, shoes, and makeup…everything was hers. Thank God for her because somehow I managed to get to Good Day Columbus smelling decent and was able to perform how I had planned.
Unaware, the real lesson had not even been learned yet. After Good Day Columbus, I realized that I was not going to be able to go relax back home like I had planned a few days prior. My friend and boyfriend were both not home, so I was practically on my own. Trying not to let this incident bring me down (because I had gotten this far), I decided I would camp out at a local Panera’s for a few hours to wind down. Regardless, I knew that I had to go back into the infected house to grab a few important things. With only two arms and hands, and just a few minutes before those didn’t start to smell again, too, my options on what I could grab were slim. I ran into my house and instantly rampaged to find my laptop, purse, charger, and of course, the much needed perfume. I then went and lodged at Panera for a couple of hours (still in all of my friend’s attire). I realized in that moment, that I had grabbed everything I felt necessary. I realized that all the other bajillions of things and stuff I had piled at home did not even cross my mind to grab. Here, I realized that all I really felt like I needed to be secure was some not-so-smelly shelter, my purse and wallet, my laptop, my phone and my charger. Not to forget, one of the most important of them all, a friend willing to lend a hand.
Realizing all of this is a bittersweet feeling. I feel immensely thankful to have what I have. I also feel that it won’t hurt to ask myself next time before I feel the urge to splurge, “Do I really need this?” And I am sure it won’t hurt you, either.
P.S.- I also learned from this extravaganza how strong headed I am and how faithfully I believe to never let an opportunity go. Yeah, I was freaking out a bit and did not know quite how I was going to get to the set and still look (and smell) professional, but somehow I made it happen. You just always have to take a second to ask yourself, “Is this really important to me?”
I myself have a BIG problem with remembering to do this. My addiction to buying, buying, buying has lead me to an overflowing room filled with stuff, stuff and more stuff (mostly clothes, I admit).
It’s relieving to know that this is not just a personal problem of mine. I have been in my fair share of teenage bedrooms to know that I am not the only one with this compulsive shopping addiction and an array list of “needs”. What I am realizing is that a lot of us tend to forget that all this “must have” stuff are honestly just temporary phases. We end up not really needing them at all, and sometimes even forgetting about them.
This all came clear to me a few nights ago when my dog came into the house with a familiar, yet god forsaken smell following her- skunk.
Not only was the smell horrific and practically unbearable, but it was 3:30AM when this abominable incident happened, which meant I had t-minus four hours to be up to get ready to make a last-minute appearance on Good Day Columbus.
Horrified and now completely discouraged, I had no idea what I was going to do. The spray had gotten directly on my dog and she had scurried through the house just in enough time for our entire place to reek of skunk smell. From past experiences, I have learned that this rancid odor sticks to EVERYTHING in its path. All the furniture, all your clothes, and even your own body start to immediately stink up.
Knowing this, I trapped myself in my bedroom hoping it was the most uninfected room in the house. Unfortunately, I could hardly fall asleep because all I could think about was how I was going to manage to even attempt to get ready in the morning.
After taking over an hour to fall asleep, I woke up at 7:30 A.M. to find out the smell had gotten worse. I could only imagine how bad my clothes, makeup, body and hair smelled. Thankfully, before I had drifted off, I decided to text one of my close friends in hopes she would wake up in time to help me. Good thing I did this because I woke up to a text from her saying I could come over and use whatever I needed. Frantically, with only an hour to get ready and not knowing how bad anything around me or on me smelled, I got up and knew that the longer I stayed in this skunk polluted house the worse everything was going to smell. I packed a bag full of clothes that I was supposed to bring to the set, along with my contour kit, shoes and purse. I got to her house and before even walking into the door, she warned me I was going to have to get into the shower, scrub myself and wash my hair. Everything reeked, along with all the stuff in the bag that I had packed for the set. My best friend ended up coming through and lending me everything I needed that morning. From her shampoo, shower and soap to her clothes, shoes, and makeup…everything was hers. Thank God for her because somehow I managed to get to Good Day Columbus smelling decent and was able to perform how I had planned.
Unaware, the real lesson had not even been learned yet. After Good Day Columbus, I realized that I was not going to be able to go relax back home like I had planned a few days prior. My friend and boyfriend were both not home, so I was practically on my own. Trying not to let this incident bring me down (because I had gotten this far), I decided I would camp out at a local Panera’s for a few hours to wind down. Regardless, I knew that I had to go back into the infected house to grab a few important things. With only two arms and hands, and just a few minutes before those didn’t start to smell again, too, my options on what I could grab were slim. I ran into my house and instantly rampaged to find my laptop, purse, charger, and of course, the much needed perfume. I then went and lodged at Panera for a couple of hours (still in all of my friend’s attire). I realized in that moment, that I had grabbed everything I felt necessary. I realized that all the other bajillions of things and stuff I had piled at home did not even cross my mind to grab. Here, I realized that all I really felt like I needed to be secure was some not-so-smelly shelter, my purse and wallet, my laptop, my phone and my charger. Not to forget, one of the most important of them all, a friend willing to lend a hand.
Realizing all of this is a bittersweet feeling. I feel immensely thankful to have what I have. I also feel that it won’t hurt to ask myself next time before I feel the urge to splurge, “Do I really need this?” And I am sure it won’t hurt you, either.
P.S.- I also learned from this extravaganza how strong headed I am and how faithfully I believe to never let an opportunity go. Yeah, I was freaking out a bit and did not know quite how I was going to get to the set and still look (and smell) professional, but somehow I made it happen. You just always have to take a second to ask yourself, “Is this really important to me?”