Less Can Be More
Less Can Be More (2013)
In the last year or so I have really gotten to understand the meaning of worldly possessions and know that they do not hold the value that I have always placed on them.
I read an article once about women of my mother's era. They were children of the Depression or THE War and they didn't have a lot while growing up. They learned to make do with what they had, seeing their mothers perform miracles every day. When they grew up they loved to display things, filling shelves with knickknacks, counters with canisters, appliances, and walls covered with all kinds of pictures, photos, and art. Possessions were comfort.
A little of that mentality must have been passed on to me because I didn't have much as a child and I started a hope chest as a teenager, filling it with embroidered dresser scarves I made, embroidered pillowcases I made, towels, dishes, and everything I could buy to prepare myself for my adult life.
I've had a hard time getting rid of things over the years. I see value in almost every piece of furniture I have owned, even when it has passed its use. Once when we moved I rented a 40 yard dumpster and filled it with things we had been storing in the garage and a side room. That meant we filled a dumpster measuring 22' long x 8' high and 8' wide. If I had my way I would have kept all of it, but I knew it had to go.
Two 10x30 storage units were emptied and all things given away just two years ago. Believe me, I am not a pack rat. If I had the time I could have sold all the items and made a nice profit.
Now I am facing what to do in my next phase of my life. I have an appliance corner up at the lake house and even I have to admit that I don't need three toasters and two coffee makers. I have two electric skillets and so much more.
Down here in town I have over half of the garage filled with stuff that I will have to decide with to do with, too. A lot of it will eventually find it's way to the lake house, but some of it has to find a new home, too. I admit that I love my stuff and I don't want to get rid of anything, but I know it is for the best.
