Too Much Stuff!

All throughout my life there has been this subtle yet powerful desire to get more stuff.  A bigger house, nicer car, the newest gadget.   Now that I have spent the first part of my life accumulating more and more things, I find myself seeking simplicity and getting rid of all the excess.

There used to be picture frames and decorative stuff on the mantle.

Over the last few months I have been “spring cleaning”.  It started with the stuff on the fireplace mantel and a small bookshelf by the door.  We didn’t have any intention of reading those books again so out they went.  Then I decided that our living room furniture had to go.  I posted it for sale and soon enough someone bought the coffee table and end table and later the loveseat and the big chair and ottoman.  That left us with a couch.  In the mean time I had refinished an old 1940’s bankers desk which just happened to fit nicely in the new open space.

Nothing except a red lamp on the desk!

As time went on, we had the kids clean out their toys to give away and I went through my clothes.  We gave away so many trash bags full of clothing and toys.  Just when I thought I was done, I’d clean out more.  Just yesterday I went through the kids’ clothes and got 2 more bags of clothing!  There’s nothing more freeing than getting rid of stuff!

So much space now...only about 7 winter and 7 summer dress shirts.

You see, all this stuff clutters up the house.  The kids couldn’t keep their rooms clean and all the stuff on shelves required extra time to dust around.  The kids’ dressers were overflowing with clothes and they only really wore what was on top of each drawer.  They wouldn’t take time to dig through to the bottom.  Drawers were left open because they were too full and toys were left out because they wouldn’t fit in the toy box.  We had too much stuff!

Neatly organized drawers in my daughter's room.

For us, living on the homestead means being outside a lot.  The kids play outside and don’t ever touch the toys in their room.  Sure they play with Legos and their stuffed animals…we didn’t get rid of everything…but the point is, they use their creative minds to play outside and not with toys.  In fact, they played better than ever once they weren’t bogged down with too many toys to choose from.   

The 3rd truckload of stuff to be given away.

I realize that it took being at a point in our lives where we had finally attained all these things to come to my senses.  It’s not the stuff that makes us happy.  It’s the family.  It’s surrounding ourselves with people.  Simplifying life to the things that matter.  Sure, I still have a lot of stuff and will continue clearing things out but I feel like it’s a good start.  You should try it.  Look around your house.  Stop and ask yourself if it’s something you will miss.  Set stuff in the garage, out of sight, and see if you even think about it being gone.  Chances are, you will realize how freeing it is to declutter and simplify.  

My Take-Aways:

1. We have too much stuff.  Get rid of it!
2. The kids are actually really good at giving stuff away.  Don’t underestimate their ability to help out!
3. It’s not stuff that makes us happy.  It’s family and friends.  Spend your time building relationships and serving others instead of becoming a slave to the things we own.