Day 9: The Things We Keep (pt. 1)

I am a person that enjoys having as little as possible in material possessions.

There are several reasons why. First, which probably sparked my focus on living simply, is that I have moved many times in my short adult life. Most of the time I have hauled all my possessions by hand, up and down hills. I had to find a way to fit everything I own into and onto a car. So, with plans for moving again, I would like to move as little as possible.

The second reason is that I believe having too many things clutters my life. As Tyler Durden said in Fight Club all those years ago, “The things you own end up owning you.” That is a true statement. Material things are going to wear out. They will need maintenance. Clothes will “go out of style.” Christmas will come again! (I write dreadfully.) Even the things that I enjoy having end up being a burden because they require more upkeep than they are mentally and monetarily worth. The more things I have end up being things sitting in a corner or tucked away in a tote.

The third reason is practicality. There is very little that I need on a daily basis in this world. I moved to Alaska recently and was able to carry everything I needed on my back and with my arms. And I have found that I brought too much! Weekly, I use this computer for writing and work, a few pairs of clothes and shoes, toiletries, a journal, and some books (which the latter two I technically don’t need). I have little because I use very little on a regular basis. (Minus the housing necessities and food, of course.)

The fourth reason is spiritual. The more we attach ourselves to something, the more it hurts us when that something leaves or breaks. Having little to no attachments frees us from that fear of loss and suffering. I find myself enjoying trips to the Salvation Army or Goodwill more and more.

The fifth reason that I try to buy and have as little as possible, which I believe is the most important, is the need as a species to downsize our consumption. Most of us have grown up not thinking about where all these things that we eat and buy come from: food, clothing, entertainment materials, toys, cars, everything in Walmart. We Americans grew up in a world that magically had anything we needed at the grocery store down the street. Now, we can magically order anything that we want from Amazon or some other online store and it magically shows up at our house in two freaking days or less! That is crazy. That is way too convenient. And I worry that kind of living is leading us down an unhealthy path.

To Be Continued…

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Authors Note #1: The second half of this post turned into a rant that needs refining.

Authors Note #2: I like alliteration.