Stuff. We have so much of it. Why do we have so much stuff in our lives? We are constantly exposed to ads telling us we need more stuff. With online shopping, it has never been easier to consume. Who doesn’t love that excitement you feel when you click “add to cart and anticipate the delivery of the latest and greatest? It’s like getting a present. There are also have the endless sales in retail spaces that encourage us to take advantage of the bargains. After all, we might need another pair of black shoes, and if it’s a good deal, why not? Who doesn’t love a deal?
- What happens if we continue to acquire more things without purging or re-homing the items we aren’t using or don’t need anymore?
- What happens when our living space, that is full of our treasured possessions, needs to be smaller?
- What happens when our things take up so much room that we feel crowded in our living space?
- What happens to all the stuff when we need to move?
As we age, many feel like it will be easier to manage in a smaller space, but how will we fit into that space? It is hard to decide what are priorities in terms of what to keep, donate, sell or throw away. Some are very good at letting go of things. Many feel completely overwhelmed by this task and put it off for another day.
Some will try to move everything that they have into a smaller space, putting off the task of purging items that they no longer need. In that scenario, one might pay packers to move the items, then pay movers to move the item, then pay someone to help organize and settle in, then pay someone again to get rid of things. The time and money involved suddenly negates that great deal on those black shoes.
Why is it so hard to simplify our things and minimize our possessions when the benefits of doing so are so clear? Because these things often mean something. All that stuff…holds memories, reminds us of something and often makes us happy.
In reality, while there may be meaning attached to things, we can let go of many of them while holding on to those memories.
So how do you decide?
First, it is helpful to have someone sort through things with you. Another person can add a different perspective and suggest ways to preserve a memory without having to save the actual item. All those old photos from the pre-digital days? Those can be scanned and saved on a computer or enjoyed in a digital picture frame. What about the duplicate photos or blurry ones? You never look at them and they take up space. Time to throw them out.
Clothes that do not fit should be re-homed to someone who can wear them. Cookware that you never use could really come in handy for someone else and can be donated. If you have valuable items such as silver or art that no longer has a place on your walls, there is the option to try and sell it.
The process of decluttering and simplifying is challenging. It likely needs to be done in stages and sometimes in baby steps. It is a process that allows us to live a simpler and more clutter free life and is a gift for our heirs once we have passed on from this life.
