my struggle with stuff

I've long been attached to my stuff. Cardo likes to tease me because I still have some things from the time I was in high school (and, um, from before). I have weeded out tons and tons of stuff from my possessions and yet I own more. My somewhat mindless collecting of stuff began before I became an adult. I didn't mean to mindlessly acquire, but it happened. I'm a person who can pack up a box during one move and not unpack it for three more moves and never miss what's in the box. I probably don't even remember what is in the box.

I've worked diligently to declutter my life, although it doesn't really look like it. For several years now, I've given a lot more thought to my purchases: Do I need this? [Most likely not.] Is it worth spending the money on? [Probably not.] Is it worth the amount of hours I have worked to earn the money (or, the amount of hours Cardo has worked to earn the money)? [Probably not.]

I've greatly reduced my consumption of stuff (um, I'm really not including books in this category of stuff -- I love and value my books and I've become much better about checking books out from the library instead of buying them immediately). However, we still manage to collect more...stuff. I myself am definitely a work in progress.

I'm trying to see my things as such: things, not little bits of myself or something like that. I don't need to have a bunch of junk surrounding me. It doesn't make me feel better. In fact, it makes me feel worse. When I look around at all of the junk we have accumulated and have yet to return to Goodwill or Savers (where we most likely bought it in the first place), I become anxious.

Anyhow, this brief bit of introspection was inspired by this short video clip:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Annie Leonard
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care reform

As soon as the local library website is once again working, I'll be adding The Story of Stuff to my library holds list.