The end of a calendar year is always a time of reflection for me – remembrance of the beauty hidden in small moments and what they have collectively taught me.
2015 was both challenging and immensely rewarding. However, it wasn’t the obvious things (such as achieving my MBA or P.Eng) that stand out when I reflect, but rather matters of the heart: relationships which helped me to grow, illness which made me aware of the fragility of life, and a happiness project which significantly altered the way I choose to interpret experiences.
This past year shook me, in the best way possible. I have emerged, I would like to think, stronger. My new challenge for 2016? Get a handle on STUFF.
There are strong social narratives which have coloured our relationship with physical possessions. I want to explore these in depth, through examining their impact on my own life. I hope to make changes over the next year which will break this endless want for more “stuff” and to determine a strategy for reducing my home’s waste footprint.
I hope you consider joining me! What have you learned from your experiences in 2015? Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions? I would love to hear more about them in the comments below!
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~ L to the Aura ~ 
Hey Laura!
What is it about us humans that we must experience hardship to appreciate the beauty of life? Hardheaded and hardhearted I guess.
I am honored that you are following justkeepingitREAL. It warms my heart to know you will be visiting me.
Have a great day!
Rita
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“There are strong social narratives which have coloured our relationship with physical possessions. I want to explore these in depth, through examining their impact on my own life.” So true! Thanks for following!
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Thank you!
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Hey Laura,
My main resolutions are about being more present, opening and seeing miracles every day. Bill and I usually make a list, but it ends up a to do list that just seems overwhelming. We really are doing our wills this year. We keep putting it off because his family is complicated. Mine is not. And the stuff factor is always on it. We just can’t seem to get a handle on it. I mean decades of stuff. I don’t feel the need for new stuff at all…just lightening up the old. Looking forward to yours and your followers ideas. For me, each thing of mine has a story – a gift, something I bought because i loved it, something that could be used some day, old things that remind me of an adventure. Parts of myself represented. It doesn’t seem to be as much about being attached to stuff as much as the actual decision of what to let go of, if that makes sense.
Thanks Laura!
Mary
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Mary – thank you so much for sharing your journey. Wills can be an immensely overwhelming task for so many reasons. I completely know what you mean about certain items having stories – ones you cherish. Look forward to hearing what you think along the journey.
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I got a headstart on the goal of eliminating “stuff” and started about a month ago – closets now have a spaciousness about them (8 large trash bags of clothes left the house) and the book shelves look like they can breathe a little better (6 boxes donated to the local library). The next project is papers – I dread them because they have been accumulating for decades and are stored in boxes. But I am determined, they need to go. I think we all need to assess and re-evaluate our relationship to our stuff, the stuff we already own and the stuff we think we “need” to buy in the future. Our health and our planet’s health depend on it.
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So very true! Well done on tackling so much already. You are well on your way – hopefully I can get some pointers from you over the next few months.
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Yes, I have also been considering my relationship with stuff. As in, I want to buy less of it, I want to get rid of some of it, and make much more use of the good stuff I have. Donating is a good thing to do. I’ve got a box of books ready to bring over to the public library. There, they raise funds by selling donated books and other materials.
I’ve bought too much stuff in the past, and spent too much money on stuff. One resolution is to spend less money, and pay off my credit cards which I used to buy some of the stuff.
Another big resolution is to use the really good stuff I have.. musical instruments and books, get more use out of my computer, etc.
It is a very good idea to take a thorough inventory of what we have, figure out what we need, use what we need, decide what we can do without, and sell or donate it.
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So interesting to hear your insights, Tom. So true to see how finances and material possessions are linked, and indirectly how getting a handle on possessions could help us to be less financially burdened as well as the potential to be more grateful for the things we have. Thanks for sharing!
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Funny how things connect. I started working on my Stuff (GTD style) and working on getting organised, without losing sight of having a life, fun and spiritual growth. Power to your efforts.
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Thank you Mac! Any words of wisdom you could pass along from your journey? Much appreciated.
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Expand my patience, express & live with kindness, laugh more, and honor the moment. This is how I’ll live in 2016.
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Brilliant! I love these goals. Laughing more is one that really resonates with me. I recently read that babies laugh on average over 300 times a day, while adults laugh only 15 times.
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Great article Laura!
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So glad you enjoyed!
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