Hi First name / Slothies!
I’ve been thinking a lot about stuff lately.
The things we buy, the things we keep, the things we think will change our lives (but really just end up in the back of a drawer). And if I’m honest, I’ve been guilty of mindlessly shopping—filling a cart just because I wanted something new.
I never thought much about how my spending habits were shaping my identity—until I forced myself to take a step back.
For years, I thought my stuff defined me. My cosmetics, my home decor, my wardrobe—it all felt like an extension of who I was. If I curated the right things, then I’d be seen in the right way.
But when I started decluttering, I realized how much of my spending wasn’t actually about joy or utility—it was about habit, impulse, and filling gaps I didn’t even know existed.
That’s why I challenged myself to a no-buy year.
Not as some extreme form of deprivation, but as a way to get clear on what truly adds value to my life—and what doesn’t. I’m challenging myself to be more intentional. Not just with shopping, but with how I show up for myself—keeping promises, trying new things, and not letting small slip-ups throw me off track.
And let me tell you—when you strip away all the distractions that come from new stuff, you learn so much about yourself.
That’s when it hit me: I didn’t know who I was beyond what I owned, what I accomplished, or what I did for work.
To be frank starting this business and changing my lifestyle were really the catalysts for me. Once I had to talk about myself—on my website, in conversations, in marketing—it became clear that who I am isn’t defined by the things I own, but by the story that led me here.
That’s why I’m such a huge advocate for personal branding and storytelling.
Because when you learn how to articulate your own value, you stop relying on external things to do it for you. You own your narrative, instead of letting random purchases or job titles define it for you.
It's time to stop letting external factors and things write the script on who you are. You already have everything you need to be you. If you couldn’t use your job title, accomplishments, or possessions—how would you describe yourself?
Reply and tell me—I’d love to hear your story. 💛
XOXO,
Renee
