The Beauty of Impermanence
Author’s Note: This is the fifth and final installment of Living Abundantly With What You Have, a five-part series on the very human notion to collect things, but also the desire to keep things minimal. Start here to learn more!
I came across a Switchfoot song relatively recently — okay, it’s because Owl City released a cover of it, and I must listen to all things Owl City — called “Gone.” It’s from an early album of theirs called The Beautiful Letdown. Despite the song being around since 2003 (!!!) the words ring more and more true each day:
“All the riches of the kings end up in wills.”
At first, I thought it was merely a pithy remark, but it’s true. Despite the pyramids pharaohs built, despite the hordes of wealth people with power accumulate, once they’re dead, they’re not taking it with them.
Grim, yes. Liberating? Also yes.
Letting go of material things doesn’t necessarily mean dropping everything, shaving your head, and becoming a monk or a nomad. It’s about using the stuff you have, it’s about appreciating it, and acknowledging its impermanence.
Things are things. They may provide some temporary comfort or relief, but they don’t have a soul. We may have memories attached to them, but do we need to hold on to every last little thing? My dear tía poignantly calls it “collecting with intention.” Simply put: make the items in your possession matter.
Every few months, my husband and I do seasonal house cleanings where we take stock of what we have and what we can get rid of. Even with this habit in place, it’s crazy to see how much we accumulate without even thinking about it. The menial (soooo many receipts), the meaningful, and everything in between!
However, several trash bags and trips to our thrift store later, we both feel a lot lighter. It also continually encourages me to really assess the things I choose to bring into my home. Over time, you find that you really don’t need all that much.
An invitation
In theory, this should be a pretty straightforward invitation: give yourself the freedom to hold onto less.
Are you holding onto something that’s just overwhelming you? Start small, and take courage in knowing that it’s okay to part with it. (I realize this may also apply to the immaterial, but I figure the principle still applies!)
Some nostalgic compromises
Because I’m a sentimental person, here are some suggestions for things that might be particularly hard to let go of:
Take scans of documents (cards, magazine pages, childhood art, bookmarks) — I did this with many of my notes from high school and college, and I’ve already consulted them far more than I ever did when they were in the scary, dusty box under my bed all those years…
Take photos! I’ve even read about photographers who take quality, artistic photos of literally any item you send them (from plushies to matchboxes). Photos allow you to capture the memory without taking up vital living space.
Determine if there’s a person who may benefit from the particular material before tossing it. Now, I don’t say this to be an “out,” but maybe, you have some very specific heirlooms that someone you know would greatly appreciate. I myself love my books, but I’ve passed some of mine on to friends or family who liked the subject matter.
Now, when you’re in the thick of letting go, having someone around to help you process is always a good idea. Grab a friend, sibling, or just any person who can help you sift through or even just “body double” and motivate you by simply sitting with you as you work.
The beauty in giving away
As you know, I’m not advocating for you to get rid of your belongings for the sake of being a minimalist. More than anything, I propose a perspective change; let the things you hold onto, those things that take up space, count. And if you no longer find yourself reaching for it, give it the opportunity to bless someone else.
This lesson made itself profoundly clear a year ago, when I was perusing the aisles of my local thrift store. This particular shop has discount days, and it so happened that the Saturday that I was there, all the clothes in the main part of the store were valued at $1 apiece.
What a bargain!
As I combed through blouses, I overheard a mother speaking to her child.
“Listen, I only have $6. You can only pick out three pieces. That way, you and your brother can have an equal amount of new clothes for the school year.” I heard the child reply in the affirmative, off to hunt for the newest additions to his school wardrobe.
In donating your items, you really don’t know who’ll be on the other side of them. Sure, some people may thrift merely to resell; we can’t control who’ll end up picking up the items you give away. But there are some people who will truly be blessed by your decision to part ways with things. And isn’t that great, to give something a new life?
In letting go, you’re giving away so much more.