{"id":3188,"date":"2016-04-05T10:33:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-05T16:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bemorewithless.com\/?p=3188"},"modified":"2020-01-09T16:20:22","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T23:20:22","slug":"things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bemorewithless.com\/things\/","title":{"rendered":"My Favorite Things aren’t Things Any More"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"My<\/p>\n

Since 2010, with my family, I donated or sold 50% of my stuff, and then another 50%, and then anything I didn\u2019t want to bring from a big house to a small apartment. This naturally created more space, but it also completely redefined the\u00a0relationship I have with stuff.<\/p>\n

All my things used to be my favorite things<\/h2>\n

I used stuff to feel better.<\/strong>
\nIf I was bored, I went shopping. If I was down, I bought something to lift me up. If I was up, I bought something to celebrate.<\/p>\n

Now, if I’m bored or down, I sit with it. Instead of shopping away pain or worry, I feel it. Now I\u00a0understand those feelings are\u00a0my body\u2019s way of saying, \u201cListen, something isn’t right.\u201d not \u201cLet\u2019s go buy things.\u201d<\/p>\n

I used stuff as an excuse.<\/strong>
\nMy stuff was an excuse for a bigger home, and a better paying job. I needed a place with bigger closets, more cabinets, and more square footage for\u00a0all my stuff. And, of course I needed to make more to pay for it all.<\/p>\n

Now, I realize my home is a place for joy and connection, not a place to store stuff.<\/p>\n

I used stuff to show people who I was.<\/strong>
\nMy extensive book collection demonstrated how smart and well read I was.\u00a0I wore suits into conference rooms so everyone would know I belonged there, even thought that’s the last place I wanted to be. My big house, nice car, job title, and high-end dining room table made me believe I was successful and confident.<\/p>\n

Now, I find confidence in who I am, not what I own.<\/p>\n

I used to protect my stuff.<\/strong>
\nI collected it, stored it, moved it across the country, and from one living space to another. If a friend borrowed a book or something else, I’d keep track of it, or put my name on it, waiting for it to be safely returned. I\u2019d get panicky about thinking what I\u2019d rescue from a fire, or worry about\u00a0things being stolen.<\/p>\n

Now, while I appreciate the things I own, I am not attached to them. They don’t own me back any more.<\/p>\n

For example, I\u2019m grateful for …<\/em><\/p>\n