FOR years now, when I say I'm adulting, I meant that I am telling myself to slow down on buying books and toys. It's like when I'm in a bookstore and getting all enamored by loads of books and picking up more than five, and then returning them one by one and keeping only two. I'd give myself a big pack on the back for being adult enough not to hoard.
The same goes with toys, especially the Lego types and yes, dragons (and throw in some Smurfs). It's always a struggle, but being able to cut down on purchases is always a happy achievement. Who needs that many books and toys, anyway? But you know how it feels when you love some things so much. It's like an obsession and requires a big load of self-control to thwart.
At Puerto Princesa, having decided to make the task of renewing my passport a reason to go on a vacation instead, with Dengdeng tagging along because she too would want to have a short vacation somewhere away from home, we were browsing through MCA souvenir center and picking up nothing. Not a single item. We did not talk about it until after we left and pointed out how the desire to hoard souvenirs was no longer there.
The last time I was in Puerto Princesa was in November 2009 and I remember how I was popping in and out of every souvenir shop in a frenzied search for those miniature rice baskets of all sizes.
Last Thursday, the miniature rice baskets still had that "cute" appeal to me. They still attracted me. But the desire to buy was no longer there. I picked them up one by one, checked on the intricate weave, and then put them down.
Yesterday, we did our souvenir shopping. Dengdeng bought one wind chime, I bought three. That's it.
Indeed, wisdom can only come with age. Much as we tried to be wise when we were young, that feeling that you can afford and thus, you must spend is just too strong to ignore. As you mature, however, and being able to afford is already a given, gone is that desire to spend just because you can and the practical concern kicks in. Like, souvenirs are now regarded as additional stuff to clean or additional clutter at home. While food is now measured according to their volume and expiration dates: can these be consumed before expiry date? If not, then the number is reduced.
Interestingly, the level of gratification remains the same. (saestremera@gmail.com)