Are you a finisher, or an opener? There’s an older post about this idea on Gretchen Rubin’s blog here.
Do you get more pleasure out of starting a new jar of peanut butter, or finishing one?
When I first saw this idea I couldn’t believe I hadn’t ever thought about myself this way before. I am a finisher, through and through. Dare I say there is joy, not to mention a weird sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing something (although, really, is simply finishing something really an achievement??) I will use a small spatula to scrape out the insides of a jar of mayonnaise. I will tip a shampoo bottle on its end and make use of the dregs for weeks. I will take a sad head of broccoli from the back of the crisper and make soup out of it. I squeeze the life out of a toothpaste tube before declaring it empty and throwing it away. It is SO SATISFYING, to be a finisher, although I admit, it also can be a burden at times. Perhaps it has something to do with wastage, which I cannot abide.
Strangely, I like to see an empty fridge. It means that leftovers have been eaten and it’s time to restock.
Lately I have sustained a lot of happiness from using up bottles and samples and jars of half-used hair/body/beauty products. My bathroom drawer, makeup bag, and that one cluttered shelf in my closet are gradually becoming tidier. And that’s a good feeling.
