Accused Of Throwing Everything Away

I have been accused of throwing everything away. I do not. But I understand the accusation. Over the years, I acquired a lot of things. I still feel like I own too much. At one time or another, I contributed to the statistic estimating there are 300,000 items in the average American home. Years of buying and collecting turned into a lot of stuff to get rid of. It probably does seem like I throw everything away.

We needed storage for those 300,000+ items. I installed cabinets and shelves lined with baskets and bins. Most are now empty and I pass on the storage devices too. It hurts my head to think about the “investment” in collectable baskets and bears. I feel buyers remorse and guilt for inspiring others to make similar purchases. I’m embarrassed to admit how much we accumulated.

After years of consumerism and chasing the American Dream, I found a better way….a more meaningful way to live. And I hope others can learn from my mistakes. Hindsight is 20/20. That’s what I tell myself.

Since all the stuff is here, my only option is to remove it. That means throw some stuff away. Whenever possible, I donate items to charity and pass things on to people who can really use them. I do not enjoy driving carloads of stuff to the donation center every month. But I do enjoy the freeing feeling it creates. I enjoy the open space in my home. A place where I’m no longer overwhelmed by clutter. I’m in the moment with my family and free from distractions. I’m also a good steward of the excess by recycling and donating with care and consideration. Never wanting my clutter to be a burden to others.

Do I wish that I could re-live the last 20 years? Wish that I had saved the money instead of feeding the machine? Absolutely! But I cannot rewrite history and neither can you.  The silver lining to my journey is that I can speak to what it feels like to be on the other side. I have lived the before and after. Just like photos, I love how the “after” looks and feels.

Living simply on the other side of clutter and wasteful spending means living a life of purpose and intentionality. I own a home filled with only items that are functional, value-added, or bring a smile to my face. I mean a very big smile and items I’m willing to dust. 🙂

For those of us pursuing a simpler life, once you’re on the other side it’s really hard to stop. I see my home in a different light. It provides shelter, safety and comfort as well as a place for family dinners and game nights. Space to entertain friends and build community. Rooms that are easy to maintain so that we can do this any night of the week without hours of preparation.

A home like this comes from removing a little bit each day. Daily vigilance fends off junk mail, freebies and advertisements. It’s led to this assertion that I throw everything out.

Actually, I just buy a lot less.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey to #OwnLessLiveMore because my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.