Bag instead of a shelf
I observe that in our society whenever some issue arises, a need to buy something also arises immediately to fix this issue. I of course buy things too in response to needs. For example, recently I invited a folic acid supplement into my life.
Approaching consumption mindfully helps me avoid buying things that are not necessary, to satisfy some need or want creatively and use what I already live with.
We have only one table in our home. It serves us as a dining table and a desk. I've noticed that several things, such as our headphones (we share them), small cables, notebook, pen and my folic acid supplement take too long to remove from the table before dinner. Perhaps I could simply take a few moments to remove those things each time and not feel uncomfortable about it, but those things are not always needed on the table anyway. In such situations, fellow humans would probably invite a shelf (whether used or new) into their life. But I didn't want any more furniture. I simply took a cotton bag that came a year or so ago with some bedding and attached it to the chair I use most often.
It's such a small event, but it felt so good to find a simple solution, to use what I already have. Ecological degradation is not going to stop because I've avoided buying a shelf. But we make similar decisions very often. Do I buy something or do I use what I have? I think that using what we have, in a playful and at times even imperfect ways changes our relationship with objects. Perhaps it also changes our relationship with ourselves. At least this is the way I experience it. I use glass jars that came with pasta sauce as glasses and mugs, and glass jars that came with gherkins as vases. I use a muslin cloth as a scarf and a towel. I use stones and sand from a Danish beach as decorations. And I'm not feeling unsuccessful. I don't love myself less.