How much do we REALLY own?
We get this wonderful buzz when we go to the store and buy something new! It encourages us to buy more stuff.
Our possessions pile up and then we become stressed as a result. It's the sad reality of owning things.
Many people get so overwhelmed when they try to address the problem; It's overpowering. It's so easy to go out and get new things; They are cheap. And Easy to buy. Online shopping has made it easy to just hoard more items into your home. Order everything online and have it shipped to your door.
At what point does this all stop?
We always complain we don't have enough money; We can't go on vacation. As soon as the next electronic comes out, We buy it. Instead of savings we have mountains of clutter.
Back in simpler times, People didn't own as much, Before the industrial revolution things were super expensive. People couldn't afford to own a bunch of clothes or shoes. Now that things are cheaper to make, Even the middle class can have a ridiculous amount of items.
- The average American house contains 300,000 items. (Source: LA Times)
Because of our stuff, We have upgraded our homes. Instead of a small house being suitable for multiple people, It's hardly suitable for one person.
Most people have a garage full of stuff! Do you need to keep that stuff if it's collecting dust in the garage?
If you haven't used it in the last couple months, You probably won't ever use it. It's time to get rid of it.
It's Bad For Our Health
This isn't just bad for our health; Our brains are already overloaded with work life, Relationship life, And now our clutter. You stress a lot more because of the unnecessary stuff you own. If you remove stuff, You remove stress.
Also in some cases that extra dust and dirt are floating around can't be good for you to breathe in. If you have excessive amounts, You could trip, Fall and get hurt. All because they had a sale at some store.
Hate cleaning? Own less stuff, You'll get to the point you don't have to clean anymore, Other than the dusting and disinfecting.
Because you'll own so little, There won't be anything left to clean.
Should I be a minimalist?
While being a minimalist is an excellent way to be in life. It's not for everyone. Some people have taken the 100 item challenge and have dropped the stuff they own to that little. For some of us, That's too far.
But we need to be more thankful for what we have, And make sure we are using and enjoying the items we own. Hopefully, with time, Everyone can get themselves to a nice low point of possessions.
You have to decide the perfect balance for you! How much can you and your family have reasonably and not have a cluttered house and life?
You don't need to have some item rule, But keep an eye on your stuff. What is that item that is always forgotten? Getting rid of it and giving it to someone else. Is the better option! Imagine that you donating it, Means that someone's new favorite item is what you gave them? I know that's happened to me many times. I've purchased items from the second-hand store that quickly became my most favorite items I've ever owned! That person giving up that item made me incredibly happy.
Online Makes it Easy
You can own a lot these days, And have most of your possessions on the computer. You can have "digital Versions" of games, Books, music Etc.
It's amazing that we still seem to collect more and more junk!
Does stuff make us happy?
I know from experience. A couple of years ago I was so addicted to online shopping. I spent thousands of dollars. Hoping that the extra stuff would make me happy in life. It never did, though. I was more miserable then ever before.
I also knew that something needed to change.
- What is the point of living if I'm not happy? Stuff Isn't making me happy!? Then What will?
This is a question I wondered a lot. Until I realized something. Going out on a date with my boyfriend, Whether it was at the movies, The aquarium or another place, Made me so happy! That happiness lasted for quite some time after the experience happened and I didn't bring home any new possessions. Plus in the process, I learned new things and had great stories to tell later on.
That's when I realized all my online shopping didn't make me happy, and I could use that money for great experiences instead. After my boyfriend took me on my first ever vacation to Pheonix Arizona. I was hooked! Seeing another place is fantastic. I even enjoyed going for long walks in the morning just "looking" at the different houses, the different parks that I wasn't so familiar with!
That's when I decluttered.
Stuff Should be used to "enhance" your life, Not be the sole purpose of your happiness.
Thank you pixabay for the photos.
Thank you for this post!
One of your best yet!
In truth there is nothing inherently wrong with stuff just like with money or guns. Yet most peoples relationship with stuff is dysfunctional. Most people with a lot of stuff try to acquire it to feel happier and more successful, but this only leads to WANTING MORE stuff.
I have quite a bit of stuff these days but have no attachment to any of it. I have already lived 5 years of my life without more than I could wear/carry on the road. I lived out in the woods with nothing but a knife for months at a time. I have done many hard core camping trips with no more than a back pack. I have lived homeless on the streets and lived in shacks in the mountains!
Learning to live free without attachment is a PRICELESS level of consciousness. If one can truly learn to live in presence without need and winds up having stuff then its just bonus!
ITs all about the relationship with the stuff, the perspective from which the stuff is acquired/kept. This dictates the experience!
Love sing your Steemit account evolve and will keep tuning in~
Blessings~*~
I love this! Peoples "relationships" with stuff is what is unhealthy.
I love that you do that! I love camping and spending time in nature! Your life sounds very awesome.
hi,
I wrote a cute little story about a baby dolphin and all the posts he read on steemit last week and your post is in it!
have a look, I hope you like it
thanks
I am just a watcher of the things I own
Great quote :) Its really true hehe.
That's a lot of crap in my home. Are you sure it is that much. Wow!
dubloon135
hehe try counting it! I counted my small book shelf today and I had 33 books ! It's a ridiculous amount!
You don't own anything, don't belive me? See what happens if you don't pay taxes on things you think you own. The real owners will take away the items they own till you pay your yearly rent on them. land, cars, fuck even your kids. You don't really own any of it. The government does.
LOL! I didn't think of that at all! I guess you should avoid buying things so the government can't take them away. It seems really silly that we spend our whole lives owned by the government like that.
How did I not think of that one! You got me hahah
Its messed up.
It is, I think the government should have minimal influence in our lives. they should only be around to watch over the general good of the country , But they seem like they screw us over more often. Have you had this happen?
I have never witnessed the government do anything but screw people over.
@skeptic I was just wondering if you've had it done to you personally ;(
When my wife and I moved to Chile, we purged everything. We moved with only suitcases. We had sh-stuff that we couldn't give away. It was frustrating to realize how much crap we had accumulated in such a short amount of time.
I will say, however, having only the essential things and a couple of extras in our suitcases felt incredible. The feeling that we were, in that moment, free from our stuff and our clutter. It was all gone....and we didn't even care. It felt great.
Thats good to hear :) I feel like a lot of people will be afraid to declutter because they'll miss their stuff.
No doubt about that!
Yes!
Really beautiful pictures!
Thank you !
I'm packing to move as we speak. Anyone want some stuff??
Hahah!! They need to make more ways to get rid of your stuff quickly lol.
This was a really great share that speaks to one of the biggest challenges of our current society of consumption. How much is enough? and what truly brings happiness and contentment? I find that when I am considering a purchase of some thing one of the motivations to not buy or possess that thing is the damage its production has had on the planet and other humans. Was it created with slave wages? Was the earth damaged to have the resources to make it? How far has it had to travel to get to me? Will it last a long time or end up in a land fill in 6 months? These considerations usually give me much pause and keep me from pushing the buy now button. Congratulations though in minimizing your stuff load and being in the inquiry on pros and cons of consumption. take good care, oc