One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.
the good stuff
the right stuff
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Somehow, without really meaning to, I keep acquiring more stuff. It might be stuff I like, but when it comes right down to it, there's a lot more stuff that I don't need and isn't useful to me any more, but it's harder to get rid of than it should be. It's hard to throw stuff in the trash when it might be useful or valuable to someone, even if that someone isn't me. But then I have to somehow get it to the someone else, and that means the effort of selling it or donating it or giving it away. It might sound selfish but I feel like I don't have the time or energy to put into that. For real, I have a little collection of stuff here that I've been meaning to offer in my local Buy Nothing group, but that requires me to take a picture of it and post it in the group and then respond to the inquiries. I need to just do it.
Capitalism tries for a delicate balance: It attempts to work things out so that everyone gets just enough stuff to keep them from getting violent and trying to take other people’s stuff. ~George Carlin
We lived in the same house for about twenty years and we knew our accumulation of stuff was too much, and were trying to get rid of things, but it was slow going. Our basement flooded and a bunch of stuff was ruined and it also forced us to assess some of the stuff we moved out of the basement and get rid of it. But two years later when we had to move, we still had way too much stuff and now I feel bad about what we left there for our kids to have to work around, and it's also overwhelming to see how much there is to deal with when we're back there for visits. It's the same problem in a way, we don't need the vast majority of that stuff but how do we sort it out and dispose of it responsibly?
A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. ~George Carlin
There is nothing wrong with having stuff, wanting new stuff, or enjoying the stuff we have. The trick is to keep it all in perspective. We realized when we had the flood and when we moved that we had a lot of stuff that wasn't that important. Stuff can easily take up our time and effort and money, but if it takes our attention away from our relationships or prevents us from putting our resources towards much more important aspects of life, we are out of balance.
Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil―this is a gift of God.
~Ecclesiastes 5:19~
Souls are always more important than stuff.
Good to remember as I'm doing my Christmas shopping and especially while making my wish lists.
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Going to a junkyard is a sobering experience. There you can see the ultimate destination of almost everything we desire. ~Roger von Oech
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This is so good, and I can totally relate--especially to that whole first paragraph.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't be that hard to get rid of things I don't need, but somehow it is. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Deletemay I suggest you hire someone to come in? Seriously, that's often the quickest way to sort through what is needful and what isn't, and gets the job done in a focused time slot. :) that way YOU don't have to take pics and try to find the time to deal with people. :) Just a thought. FMF11
ReplyDeleteSomething to consider, thanks. I feel like since I have stuff set aside to give away, I should be able to knock out the photos and posting in about an hour on the weekend, if only I'd remember to do it. LOL Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI had a stubborn piece of wood,
ReplyDeleteold and stained, hard as a rock,
and then I realized it would
do nicely as a rifle stock.
It surrendered to the saw
and the file and chisels, too,
though by its own woody law
many splinters ran me through.
When at last the bell was rung
it showed rather a Slavic face
when polished up with oil of tung,
and earned itself a pride of place
with queries I knew it would bring,
"Dude, what exactly is that thing?"
So many of my great ideas end up similarly - wondering what on earth I was thinking when it's all done! LOL Thanks for stopping by and writing a great poem!
DeleteI was fascinated by the quotes you included. Thank you.
ReplyDelete