“Wait…WHAT!?!”
I had just told my husband we’d be making 2019 a “let’s only shop in Costa Mesa for 365 days” kind of year. He was less than enthused.
Which is weird, he’s usually game for anything.
I mean, I’ve sent him to ride sidecar at the Costa Mesa Speedway… with no prior experience; get in the ring with a professional MMA fighter… with no prior experience; and get an enema on camera with… well, you get the idea.
But this time, I may have finally pushed too far.
He didn’t look happy at all about #costamesa365
In fact, he looked horrified.
But before we go any further, let’s go back.
My name is Erin and I write under the pen name “The Mesa Maven” here at I Heart Costa Mesa. For the past four or so years, I’ve interviewed countless people, organizations, taste makers, volunteers and businesses – all here in our awesome city of Costa Mesa, California.
As much as I do it for the pure, personal joy of meeting my neighbors and cultivating their stories in the best possible light, I also see it as a way to “pay things forward” to my beautiful town. I want to bring more positive attention to our city in an effort to help it flourish as much as possible.
I’ve spent the past four years cruising the Mesa, doing my interview/writer thing; life was good. But about a year ago, as I was leaving an interview with a local art gallery, I started to get a nagging feeling that I was missing something important.
So, I went for a jog (where I do all my very best thinking) and it suddenly occured to me that I, The Mesa Maven, was not walking my own talk.
Here’s why:
The Mesa Maven would interview a Costa Mesa salon owner…
then I would jet down to Huntington Beach for my usual haircut.
The Mesa Maven would podcast with a local restauranteur…
then I would plan an impulsive, last-minute, dinner date in Laguna.
(When there are still so many restaurants I haven’t yet sampled in CM.)
For shame!
It’s not that Costa Mesans shouldn’t explore surrounding cities. They should.
But despite the love and effort I was putting into covering Costa Mesa, I was still on mindless autopilot when it came to personally supporting Costa Mesa in my everyday life.
So starting today, January 1st of 2019, I am vowing to only shop in Costa Mesa* for 365 days.
I am wiping my spending-habit slate and starting fresh, Day 1.
I’m putting some air in front of every 2019 purchase by first considering, “Can I find this thing / service / want here in Costa Mesa? Is this available locally?”
I read an article recently about the power the compound effect of micro-actions can have, and I think it applies here.
How will my life be different, a year from now, if I make this one simple change?
How will Costa Mesa be different, a year from now, if I can inspire a few of my neighbors to join in the fun?
I’ll need your help, Costa Mesans. Where are all the best local places? Come join our Facebook Group and give me the ongoing advice I will surely need throughout the year.
I’ll be posting regular progress updates on our website and social media, hashtag: #costamesa365
As for my husband? He’s finally come around to the challenge of spending an entire year only shopping in one city…
…with no prior experience, of course. ♥
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*When possible. We will always start by shopping / looking in Costa Mesa, first. But if we really need something and an alternative is nowhere to be found in Costa Mesa, we’ll stray. Also, as parents, we’ve decided that certain kid-related things (mainly educational) will need to remain baked in.
