Several years ago, a conversation ensued with a friend and work colleague. The subject of “too much stuff” in our lives came up, all the objects stored around our houses that we don’t want or need. We probably never needed most of the products we bought, but somehow we got suckered into it or they randomly accumulated when we weren’t looking.
You stored more. The house got crowded. You wondered where your space went.
Our talk revolved around crap in general and how we didn’t need much to be happy. We felt hemmed in.
He wanted ONE HOUR designated where he could throw out anything he wanted in his house. He knew this wouldn’t fly with his wife, and maybe not with his two kids either, but he didn’t care. “Just give me one hour,” he said emphatically.
I can only imagine the tornado that would create. Put that thought into your mind: “I have one hour to get rid of anything I want with no repercussions. Where the !@#$%^&*()(*&^%$#@! do I start? LET’S GO!”
Having recently moved from Texas to the Milwaukee metro area, this discussion came back to me because of how much I’ve been tossing in the trash or recycling bin the past two months. Lots of garbage you don’t need and don’t even remember. You wonder where some of the stuff came from.
It’s a cleansing process and it feels great. “AH, cleared out that corner. Now I can look at the wall.”
At the same time, you find memories emerging from the piles, whether it’s photographs, little knick knacks you bought on a vacation or a painting with special significance. You struggle with the decision when you pull some of these items out of the boxes. The question is how much the item means to you.
Those with significance stay in the house. Those that have outlived their usefulness are similarly ejected.
Space becomes an issue. If you’re filling up a ton of a room, then the imperative is to evacuate more material rather than holding onto it. Let go.
Though my buddy’s point was serious and humorous, his desire to power clean his house and launch material into outer space was a rant, and not completely based in reality-time because we still face these emotional decisions in letting things go. I think that’s why so many people hold onto objects or become hoarders – they have a sense that the object will mean something in the years ahead and they can’t bear to part with it.
One of the good things about moving is that it forces you to reassess what is important in your life. What should stay, what should go?
If you were granted a birthday wish to have one hour to toss anything out of your house that you wanted, what would it be? And why? Remember to pose that question in your head next time you blow out the candles.
Tossing out the debris of your life is literal and symbolic. By getting rid of many things you no longer use, you open up room to think, move and grow. Our minds need to do this as much as our bodies. Literally you feel more freedom of movement and figuratively you free up your thoughts to focus on more important things.
When you call up the dump truck company to set a date for them to come over to your house and haul away your leftovers, consider that combined value of what’s stored. Then let it fly.
You stored more. The house got crowded. You wondered where your space went.
Our talk revolved around crap in general and how we didn’t need much to be happy. We felt hemmed in.
He wanted ONE HOUR designated where he could throw out anything he wanted in his house. He knew this wouldn’t fly with his wife, and maybe not with his two kids either, but he didn’t care. “Just give me one hour,” he said emphatically.
I can only imagine the tornado that would create. Put that thought into your mind: “I have one hour to get rid of anything I want with no repercussions. Where the !@#$%^&*()(*&^%$#@! do I start? LET’S GO!”
Having recently moved from Texas to the Milwaukee metro area, this discussion came back to me because of how much I’ve been tossing in the trash or recycling bin the past two months. Lots of garbage you don’t need and don’t even remember. You wonder where some of the stuff came from.
It’s a cleansing process and it feels great. “AH, cleared out that corner. Now I can look at the wall.”
At the same time, you find memories emerging from the piles, whether it’s photographs, little knick knacks you bought on a vacation or a painting with special significance. You struggle with the decision when you pull some of these items out of the boxes. The question is how much the item means to you.
Those with significance stay in the house. Those that have outlived their usefulness are similarly ejected.
Space becomes an issue. If you’re filling up a ton of a room, then the imperative is to evacuate more material rather than holding onto it. Let go.
Though my buddy’s point was serious and humorous, his desire to power clean his house and launch material into outer space was a rant, and not completely based in reality-time because we still face these emotional decisions in letting things go. I think that’s why so many people hold onto objects or become hoarders – they have a sense that the object will mean something in the years ahead and they can’t bear to part with it.
One of the good things about moving is that it forces you to reassess what is important in your life. What should stay, what should go?
If you were granted a birthday wish to have one hour to toss anything out of your house that you wanted, what would it be? And why? Remember to pose that question in your head next time you blow out the candles.
Tossing out the debris of your life is literal and symbolic. By getting rid of many things you no longer use, you open up room to think, move and grow. Our minds need to do this as much as our bodies. Literally you feel more freedom of movement and figuratively you free up your thoughts to focus on more important things.
When you call up the dump truck company to set a date for them to come over to your house and haul away your leftovers, consider that combined value of what’s stored. Then let it fly.
