I know this quote might make an impact on someone else in an intellectual way, but it’s impact on me was based strictly on a material level. I’ve been quite satisfied with myself in the amount of donating, selling and general purging I’ve been doing in the last couple of years, but this quote opened my eyes even further.
Like a lot of other people I’ve been collecting, saving and acquiring things for that other life I was planning to have. Not that I’m not perfectly happy. I just thought I might be living in another house, the “someday house”, we always called it. I would find myself at an art show or wonderful shop and feel the urge to buy something that would look perfect in a kitchen where the window was over the sink, or a home with a big open floor plan. I currently have neither but for some reason, that never stopped me. I would tuck my treasure aside or sometimes awkwardly display it, all the while imagining it in our future space.
Friends have told me they’ve been hanging onto treasures in much the same way. Some thought they’d have a different or bigger house than they have now, or be living with someone they aren’t. Others thought there might be children or grandchildren by now. Whatever the reason, we were all saving for our future selves. I think it’s quite liberating to give the heave ho to material things that may be weighing us down on many levels.
There’s a certain sadness in giving up the life that was in the plan and settling into reality, but it can also be very satisfying. Free from excess stuff, free to truly plan, and freedom from the burden of thinking you’ve failed because you’ve still not reached that far off goal. Without all the material possessions, we have more room for life right now.
Besides being happy where I live now, who knows where we’ll be living “someday.” As a matter of fact, I also think it would be infinitely more fun when and if that next house comes along, to enjoy filling it with new found treasures instead of feeling the obligation to fill it with my saved up stuff.
While making decisions on what will stay and what must go I’ve had this mantra going in my head: “Won’t it be fun for someone else to discover this treasure.” This simple phrase helps me realize that these pieces can still be treasures, not just my castoffs. I wrap each one in tissue paper to keep it safe as it travels through the world of donation. I’m just moving it to it’s next home where it just might end up in exactly the right place.
I still love my many collections and I know I’ll never live in a home of beautiful minimalism. Now though, if something I’m hanging onto just doesn’t quite fit, it’s okay, it can go live elsewhere. Imagine having an empty closet shelf! Ohh, the possibilities!
We are going through the same thing over here, Janet. I feel as though I have been purging things for the last 18 years since my Mom died, never quite arriving at that simple state of just the right amount of stuff! It is quite something to live with boxes in my closet of all my ancestor's collections: journals, antique books, family photos, sterling silver, chinaware, glassware. I want to save some special pieces for the kids without burdening them. Do you have any suggestions? Just thought I'd ask! :) You are doing a terrific job with your blog. It is so fun to read. L
P.S note the new email address.
Posted by: Lisa | 02/28/2012 at 06:57 AM
Hey! You wrote what the rest of us are privately thinking of and churning around inside of ourselves. Love the quote...it is the perfect mantra for me so I am going to put it on my wall in my home during this process.
Posted by: Molly | 02/28/2012 at 04:04 PM
I love this blog entry! It made me feel so free after reading it, you gave me the words for how I was feeling. The one day we will have this and I will be happy, not that I'm not now but just that everything will be settled and final. You are so right, I so need to ready for whatever comes.
Posted by: lisa | 03/31/2012 at 09:11 PM