The Stuff we hold on to...

I've been in the process of simplifying my life and as such cleaning out - and throwing away - all those useless old things that seem to accumulate. This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I glanced over at box of stuff to be thrown out sitting by the door of my home office. The top of the stack was a computer magazine from 6 years ago. Why on earth was this still taking up my space?

Momentarily paralyzed by the notion that the magazine represented not only the physical items we hold on to, but the mental ones as well, I started wondering what I'm holding on to in the rest of my life that no longer deserves the space I'm giving it.

I wrote in a comment somewhere once that knowledge was a means and not an end. It is useless unless there is outlet for its use. But I seem to be obsessed with acquiring more of it. Why?

There was a great quote I read once: A student asked his Buddhist teacher, "what books should I read". The teacher replied, "the ones that prevent you from having to read all the others."

Sage advice indeed.

Anyway, how often do we truly question those things in our life that take up space? Also, before we "store" something, do we ever ask ourselves how much space it deserves?

What about scheduled Garbage Days - scheduled times that we focus on removing those "things" taking up space that are no longer worthwhile or valid? What are you holding on to - personally, professionally, organizationally - that no longer deserves the space you're giving it?

Comments

[aleah]

Excellent thoughts, Jon. Perhaps it is this time of year - the starkness of the landscape and the inevitable sea of white that will blanket everything, but I have also been clearing out the old. I almost dread Xmas because I know I will receive gifts that serve to take up space. I have even made a pack with loved ones to only give utilitarian items (clothes, food, tools, etc.). I went thru a mini - Buddhist moment last month and packed up every knick-knack I could find in the apartment. It was freeing.

Your point about "knowledge hoarding" is also relevant. I'm all for passing on wisdom (and for free). Enlighten us with your business illuminations...don't box them up. :-)

[Chuck Conway]

When I was younger I would drag everything around. Not sure why. It just happened. I remember one day coming back from class and asking myself what purpose all this stuff served? It didn’t make me any happier. In a way it made life more challenging because I had to deal with it.

I literally cleaned house. Ever since then I attempt to live lean.

I’ve noticed amount of accumulated material is directly proportionate to how much space is available. For instance, my current residence is small. I don’t collect much, because I don’t have anywhere to put it. Which is good, it saves me money :).

I love Christmas for the spirit it engenders in people. I hate it for the reason people feel they are obligated to buy/give gifts. Most gifts I receive I never use or don’t have the need.

I would rather take the money spent on the gift and go for a hike, watch a movie, or something else constructive. Stuff like that doesn’t lie around the house and it’s much more valuable to me.

[Jon Strande]

Aleah, thank you very much! Thank you for the comment. Perhaps the time of year did contribute, now that the weather is turning cold, I'm spending more time indoors. Yeah, knowledge is worthless unless it gets used. Ha! Illuminations - if I can think of any! ;-)

Chuck, thank you for sharing that! Yeah, I too love the holidays for the spirit of the season, but hate the commercial aspect of it. I've been telling people for years not to get me anything. It's funny, my wife and I both had birthdays in the last 45 days. For the first time we really didn't get each other that much, we do things for each other all year long, because we love each other, not because we have to do it or feel obligated because it happens to be a birthday or some holiday.

Thank you both for the comments! I really appreciate it!

Jon

[Tom Asacker]

Love the posts Jon. Keep em going.

And I love the Buddhist teacher's advice. I'm waist deep in writing a little book about branding that - if done properly - may do precisely that. But it's easier said than done. Like when Twain wrote as a postscript in a letter to a friend: "I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time."

[Colleen]

Excellent post on an excellent sentiment.

While some people intuitively understand from the get-go how stultifying clutter can be, I think most of us spend the first half of our lives accumulating crap and then, if we're lucky, the second half casting off what no longer serves.

Such a great season for the reminder.

[Jon Strande]

Colleen, thank you for the comment! Yeah, while we are getting older, we are building our life and trying to figure out who we are, some of things that we accumulate don't really matter to us when we learn who we truly are. Great point!

Jon