Washington, DC - Americans hoard too much stuff. Everywhere I go in small or large towns I see storage facilities being built. Americans have "stuff" and we need more storage space. We spend most of our lives wanting stuff and then we have to worry about keeping or maintaining what we have accumulated.
My wife and I cleaned out a bedroom closet recently. I looked through my clothes and saw too much I had not worn in the last year. I bagged it and carried it off to the local charity pickup truck. I realize they will sell it but they will sell it for cheap and somebody else will hopefully use it. I suspect together we hauled off seven or eight bags of clothes. I really don't buy that much but I had a lot of clothes that I had accumulated and I thought just maybe someday I might put some of them to use. Some stuff was just old and outdated and as I hate to confess, some of it wouldn't fit anymore.
One of the good things is that I can now better see what I really have to wear and I have worn about all of it in the last year. Well, wait; I have a pair of cowboy boots. I haven't worn them in a long time but I held onto to them because, well, I might wear them someday.
I know I have too much stuff. Honestly, the goal of my life has never been to have more. I've wanted a roof over my head and a warm place to sleep and some good food and a comfortable car. I know thousands in America are homeless and I am fortunate.
The point I am trying to make is that it just feels so good to get rid of junk. I feel happier just being able to walk into my closet. And, maybe my junk will be somebody else's lucky buy or find.
We are on a journey through this world and we try to carry too much. It's really amazing how little we really need.
The sooner we realize how little we really need the sooner we can enjoy what we have. A happier life is free from a lot of junk.
Glenn Mollette is the author of eleven books and his column is read across the country. This column does not necessarily reflect the view of any organization, institution or this paper or media source.
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