"IT'S THE STUFF"

 Moving is stressful enough without combining two households!  Leave it to me to take the most difficult path.  Think it over--we have to discuss each and every common thing to decide who brings what.  THEN if you are off the hook for packing the item--you have to find it a new home.  It has been daunting to say the least! 


NOT MY STUFF--PHOTO FROM WWW

Also, I am going from lots of storage over a nice sized house to sharing a house with a family of three.  My ability to spread out has been seriously diminished.  To start the process, I decided to try on every piece of clothing I planned to bring.  HUGE EYE OPENER!

It seems the pandemic and old age have had an impact on the way my clothing fits.  I knew I had gained a few pounds, but couple that with not going to the gym and OH MY!  Let's just say I transferred quite a few garments that I am certain I will never get in to again.  I do not believe in keeping things I cannot wear, and do not kid myself about getting down to that same size at this stage of the game.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE STUFF!  My favorite line from the old movie, "The Jerk" is

"IT'S NOT THE MONEY
IT'S THE STUFF!"

Having cleaned out my mother's belongings, after we lost her, and helped with the same after losing my in-laws, I have learned a very important truth.  Listen carefully--OUR TREASURES PROBABLY HAVE NO EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO ANYONE OTHER THAN US!  When we are gone they will sell, give away, or throw away what we so tightly clung to.  It is JUST STUFF!  You cannot take it with you and more than likely no one else treasures your treasures.  (Well except for those who love to collect (horde by another name).  Sooner or later most of it will fly out the door.  

I was able to clean out LOTS with each of my moves and think I have gotten it down to a very minimum now.  The trick will be to NOT start collecting again.  When my sweet therapist friend told me I was doing my children a big favor by going through all of this now---I was able to breath a sigh of relief.  All you have to do is remember cleaning out someone else's home to understand what she is saying.

We all tend to place far too much importance on "things".  Things are certainly nice, BUT they are not what makes the world go round.  Relationships are the true gold in our lives.  Their value is unlimited and they need our constant care and attention.  More on that another day, but for today, I encourage you to think about your material possessions and the importance you place on them.  What is taking up space in your life--stuff or people?  Where is you time, energy, and resources spent?  What does that say about your priorities?  Thinking over here after putting away two truck loads of "stuff".  DO WE NEED ALL OF THIS?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
 where moth and rust destroy 
and where thieves break in and steal,
 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
 where neither moth nor rust destroy,
 and where thieves do not break in and steal. 
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21"

4 comments

  1. When cleaning out my mother's home, I brought back some "stuff" to go through such as old letters/cards and such. Have I gone through it all yet? Not on your life! I need to get moving, remembering what you said above, Lulu. My "treasures" most likely won't be those my children would want. Time to purge!
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We can throw it out--or let someone else do the chore, but sooner or later it will go.
      Blessings!

      Delete
  2. We just moved my mom into a house in my neighborhood. The “stuff” was diminished somewhat prior to the move but there’s still lots of whittling to be done. And one day it will ALL be mine and my brothers’. 😬

    ReplyDelete

Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!