Give Everything Away
While on the bus yesterday I was playing with the idea of simply giving everything away and starting over. Of course I quickly realized that doing so is kind of silly - there is basic stuff that I'd want to keep (like plates and knives). Also it seems that just giving everything away without some kind of major life change attached (like moving) would be missing the point.
Have you felt this need?
posted by slightly-less-random at Tuesday, August 01, 2006
5 Comments:
Yes, I do often feel this need. When I take the time to sort through my stuff and get rid of things it feels very satisfying. It helps me to realize that I don't really need very much.
I've been trying (trying, mind you) to avoid collecting things in the first place. Perhaps if I set up a zero sum system whereby anything new I acquired would require me to get rid of something else of equivalent size/weight/value...
filmgoerjuan - Hmm, good luck with that. I mean, toilet paper for example. You need it to get rid of er, something.
There are many things that I have accumulately over the years. Baggage, memories, plates, gifts from people I would like to . . well.
Some times it's just knowing that what you have is enough & that all you really need is health, happiness and enjoying what you do have.
Last night I had a dream along these lines.
(Posting for Miranda)
You're right, the catalyst for this kind of a radical 'housecleaning' usually comes when faced with the prospect of moving house, and not wanting to move all your trash with you.
The last time I did this in an even bigger way than a conventional move, was when I relocated to the UK for school in 1999. Two of my housemates were getting married (to each other) and decided to hold a big garage sale, and the morning of the sale, I thought I'd throw in the odd item or two. I found myself hauling item after item downstairs to the sale until I really thought I couldn't get rid of anything more, then put all the rest in storage for two years.
When I opened the storage locker two years later, I was astounded at all the sad trash I had deemed essential that really was not, and that I had paid money to store, that I could have easily sold that morning in Victoria.
We can always do with less. Taking it in gradual stages is probably the best way to discover how little.
Miranda
(Thank you Miranda!)
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