Having Too Much Stuff Can Kill Us or Cure Us!

I simply couldn´t stay put in my office long enough to work anymore! I felt as if all the files stacked in various systems, piles of old newspaper clippings, research books I´d used ten years ago, old DVDs, vintage rolodex cards and little scrapes of paper, all this stuff, was taking over and sucking the energy right out of the room. So, I called for help. Several friends heard my desperation and offered to come over to do something; they rearranged the furniture and moved the whole office contents into my living room. Now I had two messed up rooms. First I went into over-whelm; I felt wiped out and debilitated. Then I started looking at titles of some books I hadn´t seen in a decade and made a profound decision. I would not put one thing back in my office, until I looked it over to see whether or not I really needed it, I could use it, it was relevant to the present, or I could give it away.I even created a deadline for this job by inviting six people over for dinner in three weeks, when I´ve committed to cooking. I used to cook. As I began to look at the titles of the remnants of my 100+ cook book collection, I remembered I used to enjoy reading cook books as a way to relax! I loved looking at the sumptuous pictures of food which others had prepared. I smile today when I recall coming to the startling realization that I would never make all the recipes in all my books. I chuckled, thinking that in an earlier chapter of my life, I didn´t think you could own anything that you couldn't use up!Collecting... When did we all develop this need for abundant stuff? I wonder when I started to do that. I know as a little girl I had a few Story Book dolls. I know I had a few but certainly not a collection. I also had books, but not many. Memories came tumbling out of the books I was moving from one place to another and finally putting into various give-away boxes.

Then, abruptly, the day after this Thanksgiving, I heard the news that an employee, who had opened the door to let 5am store shoppers in on Black Friday, had been knocked down and trampled to death. The store´s management wanted to close to stop the shopping, but the people inside wouldn´t leave. They were enraged, as they'd gotten up so early to wait in line.

I am aghast. I am affected. I am grieving for the employee, his family and for all of us. I am paying attention to what's happening. I've realized I have too much stuff and that´s why I´m cleaning out my office. The people in the store were out to get more stuff. We have become a consuming, materialistic nation. We have to have more stuff than the next person. Here comes my soap box again! We eat too much; we drink too much; we own too much; we want too much. We buy too much. When did we start to need stuff more than we need human connection and interaction? The people who saw the employee open the doors had to see him fall and disappear in the crowd. There were additional fights that broke out at cash registers in other stores. I personally have seen shoppers grab articles away from other shoppers, claiming they saw it first and wanted it. Why didn´t some one start yelling and try to hold the crowds back?

Shopping has become addictive and shoppers have become disconnected to each other and themselves, when they need another "fix." Our media world is constantly telling us when and where to shop, what´s going on sale and how much we need to buy. Commercials lull us into believing that when we purchase their products, we will have more love, be more beautiful, have better bodies, attract more lovers, have wonderful, perfect adventures and feel better. I have to ponder: Do we really believe that? Commercials cost huge amounts of money to produce and to air, because they truly do effect our behavior; they work to emotionally urge us to buy!I personally don´t plan to go shopping this season. I have decided to find art objects around my house that have been precious to me and that I now want to pass along to a family member or good friends. Actually, I´ve already started. I had a hand-made angel on my dining room table for years that is now residing in another city, watching over some very good pals. I didn´t even know, when I sent it, that they needed to be watched over! And they are thrilled to have her!


Soon, I will, after considerable laborious work involving lots of decision-making, be able to see empty shelves and space in my office, where I shall revel in the creative energies moving around!