The things that many of us are bringing home, keeping and even storing, both in our homes, and in storage facilities or Pods we rent, are as varied and various as we are.
Many of these, might be things we have used or worn in the past, but have outgrown. We no longer use them, or possibly no longer even have a use for them.
Other things are probably some of our impulse purchases that turned out to be our buying mistakes. The worst of these are the many things we bought but have never used. They could be considered our mistakes. Admitting we will never use them can be a source of guilt and anger. It is worst when they were expensive. Deciding what to do with these can also be emotionally fraught.
Some of the things we know we will never use will undoubtedly include some which were given to us by others. These may have arrived as gifts. Then again, possibly the reason we have been given them is solely because others felt they no longer needed or wanted them. Considering that some of this stuff came to us as a way for someone else to get rid of their extra 'stuff' might make us consider passing it on again to someone who might have a use for it, since we don't.
Generally, most of these things, could be considered part of the past. They actually might be considered clutter, physically and also mentally. We are using valuable space and energy for what is largely a lot of useless and unused junk.
CLOTHING
Although the four season climate plays a part in the various types of garments we accumulate, most people can probably admit that they have things in their closets they have not worn for some time, if ever.
Men may be quite satisfied with the clothing they possess. The both shock and amuse women with statements such as they will probably never need to buy another thing. We know, of course, that this mainly applies to clothing and not any of their hobbies. However, it is a fact, most men seem to keep, and even have items repaired, until they literally fall apart.
Women on the other hand, have dozens of reasons/excuses to explain why they 'haven't a thing to wear'. Meanwhile, women's closets are usually filled to overflowing. In general, I suspect, that there is not anyone I know that does not have some clothing items that could either go to a 'new home' or be thrown away.
PAPER
All of us, without a doubt have some papers we keep. Whether cards, letters, photographs and other keepsakes from loved ones; financial records from previous months and years, receipts or simply recipes; most of us don't live in a 'paperless world'. This is another accumulation that needs to be kept somewhere.
BOOKS
The dozens or hundreds of books we have read, also require a home. Despite purges and donations to charity and sales to dealers of vast numbers of books, bulging book cases continue to show both a love of reading and a love of keeping stuff.
We, sometimes proudly explain, that we expect to refer to them again someday. When they are souvenirs from trips they are given importance and have memories attached to them. Still other books are ones that we are certain we will read or reread when we have the free time to do this. Whatever the explanation/excuse, pretty soon, more bookcases are needed to hold this 'treasure trove'.
In my case, at one point in my life, it seemed the book collection was growing by a bookcase a month and soon became a library housed in the largest room. While admittedly, this gave me some pleasure and satisfaction, in reality, several hundred of these, while a collection, were no longer either referred to or even looked at.
MEMORABILIA - MISCELLANEOUS TRASH AND TREASURES
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Those crystal bowls, the third or fourth sets of china or crystal and many things, beautiful or not, become special to us and we hold onto them. Some of these, still in their original boxes are noticed only when we see them in passing...while looking for something we are actually going to use.
Because we don't entertain as formally as earlier generations, many antiques require an effort to clean, set up and dismantle them again for storage. It all seems like a lot of trouble to all but the most determined host/hostess. Many nice things consequently sit in drawers and are often stored away for years unused.
APPLIANCES AND TOOLS
Someday that special grill, bread maker, chopper, exercise system; almost any 'special' item we bought at the exhibition or from television, ends up stored somewhere, either in its original box or on a shelf.
Broken items, we thought we might someday repair, or parts we are keeping for future repairs and old technology items, are probably all things we should either finally Srepair or discard.
Packaging, such as elegant department store shopping bags and boxes, seem something women especially love to hang on to.
All of these are ultimately more things, we need to find a place to store.
MAKING A CLEAN SWEEP
The 'Spring Cleaning' can be renamed to suit the day or season when we finally decide to reduce, reuse or recycle the unused/unusable items we have accumulated. It will clear our closets, reorganize and simplify our lives, let us pass on things to others and in general, restore some order to our lives. Everyone benefits.
Note: See also blogs: October 2011 "Stuff-Possessed by our Possessions?" and March 2013 "Time to rate your priorities".
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