One might expect that alongside our post called “Packing Your Wagon,” we would place another called “Packing Your Storage Unit” to account for the all the belongings that aren’t being squeezed into our backpacks. On the contrary, we have decided to be rid of them all… or pretty much all of them. We are using what we call “the existence-altering wizard-stuff of throwing things away” in order to break ties with our possessions and embark upon this adventure unburdened by latent baggage.
Three generations of wedding photos, Great Aunt Mary’s ceramic eagle that hung over the pool where Chris learned to swim, Leo’s apology note to Seth for knocking his tooth out with a big stick — those kinds of sentimental ties to the past don’t burden us; they uplift us. They only fill a couple of boxes, but they don’t quite fit into our backpacks, so we will trouble a caretaker to save them for us.
To the four winds with the rest!
We topped off our twenties and careened through our early thirties collecting things that we simply didn’t need because it was easy, fun, and that’s what it seemed we were supposed to do. Deep inside us all is a medieval peasant who would benefit from a sharper axe, a sturdier chair, and two newly knit sweaters. It is only through deliberate and conscious thought that we can extricate ourselves from this pattern. We are not medieval peasants. Our axe is plenty sharp, we have a plethora of sturdy chairs (and benches and sofas and ottomans and recliners), and we could brave an arctic winter with all of our sweaters.
This journey is a quest to be more thoughtful about how we live our lives. It is striking how the process of preparing for this trip illustrates yet another aspect of our lives to which we can apply this mission. With regard to possessions, being thoughtful means to consider the long term utility of an item before allowing it into our lives. Jim Rohn urges you to stand guard at the door of your mind. We would like to add that you should stand guard at the door of your home as well, for, in our experience, a cluttered home begets a cluttered mind.
For six months now we have been carefully and deliberately sorting through all of the things that we own and doing our very best to place them in homes where they will be used and appreciated. Some have been given to friends and family, some have been donated to charity, some have been sold, and some small portion will end up — where all things ultimately end up — in a landfill (but more on that later).
I don’t want to claim that we invented minimalism — actually, I do want to claim that we invented minimalism — but the claim is not defensible. I also want to share what a positive experience decluttering our house has been.
Do you sometimes feel that your possessions possess you instead of the other way around? What do you own that you don’t need? What clutters up your home and your peace of mind that you could do without? What would you not buy if you didn’t already own it?
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