I have lots of stuff. I have essential stuff. I have special stuff. I have sentimental stuff. I have inspirational stuff. I like my stuff. Does this sound like you? Maybe, maybe not, but everyone has stuff – just in varying amounts, and in varying degrees of importance.
George Carlin did a terrific routine about stuff. (You can find it on YouTube if you’re interested.) In that routine, he says that your house is just a place for your stuff. I can relate. When we moved about a year and a half ago, one of my considerations in looking for a new house was how it would accommodate my stuff. I mean really, storage space a viable consideration in choosing a house, right? Why? Because of all our stuff! In addition, moving meant that I had to make lots of choices about what stuff would move and what stuff wouldn’t; about what stuff I needed and what stuff could I live without. When you think about it, the physical side of moving is all about your stuff.
Now, some stuff is essential in life, there is no way around it. Even in the most austere living situations, stuff is needed for survival. Stuff for protection (like clothing), for shelter, for food consumption are all necessary to live. But most of us prefer to have a little more comfortable lifestyle than living in a survival hut in the Alaskan wilderness. So we have incorporated non-essential stuff into our surroundings. How much non-essential stuff we should have, then becomes the question. And the answer is as individual as we are.
I think there are 3 basic factors that determine the amount of stuff we collect – our environment, our lifestyle, and our personalities.
Our environment. This is the practical influence on accruing stuff. Big house – more stuff. Small house – less stuff. Northern house – more coats. Southern house – less coats. Big family – LOTS of stuff. Small family – not quite as much stuff. Our environment logically governs the amount of stuff we have.
Add in our lifestyle. Our lifestyle affects the amount of stuff we have and the kind of stuff we have. Are you working every day? You need to have the stuff necessary to do your job. Are you raising a family? That requires lots of stuff. And our lifestyle not only includes the work side of life, but also our pastime. Maybe you pursue a sport. Then you need the specific stuff to do that sport. Maybe camping is your pastime of choice. Think of all the stuff you need for that! Whatever recreation you choose, it usually requires some particular kind of stuff.
Now, our personalities come into play. This is probably the biggest contributing factor in determining how much and what kind of stuff we have. Personalities can override the logic of environment and embellish the requirements of lifestyle. That is not to say that our personalities aren’t logical or that we over-embellish. It is just to say that our personalities are not limited by those things.
Different personalities make different choices and have different priorities. As individuals, we have unique tastes, unique opinions, and unique lifestyles. So even though we may logically choose an item, our personalities will decide its specifics. For example, I like fresh ground pepper. Logically then, I need a pepper grinder. My personality picked out a beautiful purple one. I have seen pepper grinders in others’ kitchens, but not purple ones. And I really like my purple one. It looks really cool sitting next to the stove. Plus, it was a gift. So it is not only practical, but also special.
Which brings me to another personality trait. Some people are sentimental, some people are not so much. There are also varying degrees of sentiment. My mom saved every greeting card she ever received. And I know others who throw cards away as soon as they are read. I am somewhere between – I save some particularly special cards, and eventually throw others away. Sentiment, however, is a big factor in the stuff I have. Stuff that was a gift, stuff that was handed down from my parents or grandparents, stuff that brings back sweet memories, is all special stuff to me, and I enjoy surrounding myself with it.
In addition to being sentimental, I am also very visual. So, I also like to see all my stuff. My house is merely a canvas that I use to paint with all my favorite stuff. And part of that stuff, is my inspirational stuff. I have Bible verses and other inspirational sayings sprinkled around the house. These edify me and remind me not to forget that God is always with me. They encourage me through hard times and help me rejoice in good times.
I can’t really talk about stuff without mentioning photographs. Photos are my weakness when it comes to having too much stuff. How could I get rid of pictures of my family or my dream vacation? I can’t. But I’ve learned that those pictures can be in albums and not hanging on the walls. Although I do enjoy viewing a wall collage of photos, sitting down with a photo album offers pleasant relaxation.
Now, I know that not everyone is like me and having lots of stuff does not interest everyone. And that is certainly okay. Our home should reflect our personality. And our stuff offers a good portrait of us. If you are a practical person, your home should be practical. If you are an artistic person, your home should be artistic. Whatever your forte, let it shine in your home in the way you want it to shine.
Our homes are also our refuge. We want to feel content and at ease when we are there. Surround yourself with the stuff that blesses you in the amount that blesses you. Make your home not only your refuge but also a welcoming solace to all who enter. If you are blessed, others will be too.
Note to my readers: Thanks for being you. And enjoy your stuff!