YurtTrash

I have too many closets. In my opinion most people have too many closets. Now I don’t mean I have empty closets. Actually the opposite is true; they’re overflowing with random stuff. This is an analogy of our so called “modern life”. We need more closet space for all the things that we might need someday. That chafing dish you use every third Christmas when it’s your turn to host the family dinner. Really, I have nothing against the “right tool for the job”, but is it worth the space it takes up in your life? It was only a few years ago that we were given a really nice sofa. We were thrilled because prior to this we used fold-up camping chairs as living room furniture. What a luxury! Please do not misunderstand me. I like new things. I like shiny things. And I really like technology and the opportunity it has to connect the world, more importantly people. I adore having access to people across the globe. All that being said, when is it ever going to be enough. I’m not against the modern world, but why when we have something that works are we driven to make it better. Obsessed to the degree that it sucks so much time and energy that we miss out on the beauty that surrounds us everyday. Beauty that can not be found in your local mall!!
I feel my background gives me a special perspective on this. Growing up the youngest of 4 children, my parents divorced when I was 5 leaving me without any memories of a family together. My dad moved away, as I entered junior high ,to start what is now a very successful business. We all make sacrifices never knowing for sure what we have given up. I remained with my mom, who worked multiple jobs just to pay the bills. As many people I know, I received little to no guidance on how to balance money and happiness. Factoring in that I ALWAYS had to learn things the hard way, there may have been more attempts than my memory will allow. This being said, I truly believe that my family always did the best they could, and I am TRULY grateful for the love and support that I did get. I know many that were not so lucky. I have often been misunderstood by those around me. This certainly laid the foundation for much self exploration and FINALLY discovery of who I truly am. It’s a wonderful thing to be comfortable in one’s beliefs, and yet have faith in the unknown.
My family includes some amazingly intelligent as well as fanatically driven individuals. This in itself is not bad, but we have lost sight of the importance of family and what we could be together if only we took the time to engage one another. Okay, how does this connect with having two many closets and too much stuff in each one. We live in a consumer driven society. Well, actually a MARKETING driven society!! We have allowed big corporations to convince us that what is in our closets is more important that who is in our family. Maybe you don’t see this in yourself, and maybe you have escaped their trap. Congratulations. Move to the head of the class. All I am saying is by taking a good look at your closets one can get a glimpse of what you see as important. Do you have 20 shirts or 200 shirts? What do you really need? You may see me as a minimalist, but I see it as keeping it simple in a world of endless complexity.
Today is a perfect day to reduce my clothes by half! Yes, I figure less clothes less laundry. Stay with me… Do you have a constant pile of clothes that never seems to get washed? I mean you keep doing laundry, but the pile seems to stay the same. Do you have clothes that you don’t really wear, but they keep ending up in the laundry basket. Of course I do have children and they like to “help” with the laundry, but I don’t think that explains it all. I’ll let you know how this works because like everything in life this is an experiment. Stuff does not make one happy, so it’s out with the stuff and in with the happy. I encourage you to search out places to recycle unwanted items. Here on Cape Cod we have “Swap Shops” at our local dumps. This is brilliant. It’s an all in one stop….need crap…need to get rid of crap….come on down it’s FREE.
I am declaring this a year to embrace all that I am. For years I have been lulled into accepting others’ reality as my own. I will stand my ground, and be an example of who, why, when, where, how and of course how much. I am giving myself permission to let go and see where it takes me. I invite you to look at your closets and create some space for what ever you value most. Space is a very powerful and magical thing to bring back into your life.