Almost everyone has too much stuff at some point in their lives. The tricky part is knowing how to get rid of it. And the key to getting rid of excess stuff is knowing why it was kept in the first place and finding the courage to face the truth and let go.
Phillip Moeller from usnews.com has an interesting look at the trouble "stuff" can cause. In Paralyzed by Your Possessions? he looks at this from the perspective of someone facing retirement planning, but the truth in the article applies to everyone. He writes:
"Encountering your possessions is really an encounter with yourself and your identity," he says. "And so, you need to decide who you really are, and I think that's the hard thing to face." Are you, for example, ready to be the person who can let go of a wedding gown? "Psychologists call it the 'possible self,'" Ekerdt says. "If you have walls and walls of books, you might have to let go of the possible self that is going to read all those books." To successfully downsize, he says, "something in the individual has to change, and that's the elusive thing we're trying to look for."
Moeller goes on to list 10 "sticky" possessions that are hard to get rid of. Among them are family photos, symbols of other life stages, and National Geographic magazines(!).
Anyone desiring to live more simply has to get a grip on their possessions. Living simply doesn't mean living starkly or spartanly. It simply means only keeping those things that are truly valuable and bring purpose. Getting rid of the things that really don't bring meaning and enjoyment to everyday life is a critical part in living the simple life.
by Don Aslett.
Comments
I really enjoyed this article. You are now on my list on my page as one of my favorite Examiners.
I've always liked the idea of living "simply" but tend to get bogged down with clutter, especially since I have my 5 & 9 year old's drawings etc. I also cleared my Mom's house out after she passed in 2003. My lovely husband was good enough to let me keep all of her stuff that fit into the largest U-haul.
I haven't had the chance yet to read all of your articles, but I am looking forward to it.
Susan
Susan,
Thanks so much for stopping by and adding me as a favorite Examiner! I'm glad you enjoyed the article and hope you find more encouragement here.
Warmly,
Sallie
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