6 Gems - Reverse Edition. The things I "had to have" and didn't buy.

By subscriber request. Spoiler alert: I lived.

You know the moment it happens. There’s a physical sensation. I hear this in my head: I have to have you → I WILL HAVE YOU. The rationalization begins. “well, if I return X…” “I can wear this to that event” and this bad boy: “I deserve it.” The Row Dune flip flops — how many DMs do I get asking … “should I?” (SO MANY. Honored. This is why you pay me.)

Now in case it’s not obvious — I’m not trying to stop shopping. I’m trying to shop like I eat. Calmly and based on genuine wanting. Stopping when full. But getting there means pausing. And asking — wait, wait, before I’m off to the races with the rationalizations (same with food, BTW — “I deserve X because of the day had.” Fine to have the X. Just make sure you really want it! And won’t feel sick or regretful) before that pausing long enough to get some clarity.

With this in mind, I’d been thinking about looking back at some of the HAD TO HAVE! pieces I ultimately decided to pass on. And you said “do it.” So here we go.