When we moved to Ireland a year ago, we took very little with us. Mostly clothes, a few dishes, fewer books and possessions. Now that I have lived without most of my possessions for that long, I realize how really unimportant they really are. I think the biggest thing (of possessions) that I have missed here is my piano. In fact, I have missed my piano so much, that I wish I had a baby grand piano instead of my upright one. So see, I really haven't missed MY piano, just pianos in general. I have realized that the most important things are family and friends. I have the Gospel here, so I don't miss that, although I do miss being in a place where the gospel is stronger.
Realizing that I don't miss my possessions makes me wonder - when I go back home to visit - why do I have so much stuff? It makes me want to go through my closets and throw stuff out, which is probably what I will do when I get home. I have this disorder (for lack of a better word) that I think I must have inherited from my mother or my grandmother. I keep "stuff" around because I think I or someone else might need it. I get a lot of pleasure by being able to give someone something I don't need, that they do need.
I have a storage closet that I love! It used to actually be a sauna, but when we bought this house, we ripped it out. I loved the cedar boards on the walls and BEGGED my husband to keep them. He couldn't understand why I wanted to. He told me he would put "nice" sheetrock up and then I could paint it. I liked the cedar boards and for once could not win this argument with my husband. I don't know if I just got tired and gave up, or what, because I really did like those boards. And besides, you can hardly see the walls, because I put up 3 huge metal shelf units in there. I'm talking the heavy duty kind that will hold 300 pounds on each shelf. They have a white coating on them and I think they look nice, and there is 3 shelves on each unit. Originally I thought I would use it for food storage, with maybe one shelf for crafts. I think right now it is about 2/3 crafts and 1/3 food storage - because I have too much stuff. Then my "grandma/mom" side kicks in and says that I NEED all that "stuff" for when the "famine" comes. (A great saying of my mom's.) I know that my craft "stuff" is not food, but after the holocaust or natural disaster, I will still be able to make crafty stuff and my hovel will look so nicely decorated throughout whatever season we are having!
8 comments:
I inherited that same disorder. But what feeds my obsession is that quite often I DO need some of that stuff! My husband always complains that we have too much stuff, and urges me to throw things out. So one time I went through all of our books and sorted out the ones that weren't very important to us. My husband had a fit and couldn't part with most of them! So even though he claims I'm the horder, I think we all have a little horder in us.
And by the way, I decided a long time ago that if I ever move back overseas again, I'm not taking much with me. My experience last time taught me what to bring and what not to bring. Craft items I would bring, but not most kitchen things. Shoes and clothes I would bring just because I have big feet and am taller than most asians.
I brought dishes and silverware simply because when my husband moved into the house here, he found we only had 4 of everything
(4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 forks, etc). I didn't want to have to wash dishes twice a day. Then also, JC Penney had a sale on dishes and silverware - 85% off!!!
I go through phases like that hoarding and then minimalist, but sometimes I look back and am sad I gave away something I wish I still had
It has been said that when your Grandmother died she had a ball of string with a label that said pieces of string to short to use.
I know what you mean. When we first got married and I left most of my stuff in my old room, I realized that I really didn't need it. Of course, I still want it, but if I lost it, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Our family scripture, paraphrased is Exodus 36:7 "And the stuff we had was enough...and too much."
Ilove it Twist! I'm going to have to look that one up. Maybe do it in embroidery. :0)
Post a Comment