Giving Stuff Away
I
love giving stuff away almost more than I enjoy acquiring things. For me,
shopping is fun; it is a hobby; and for a time in my life I used shopping
rather unsuccessfully in an ill-fated attempt to fill a void- a seemingly
bottomless deep black hole that left me feeling alone and insecure. Buying new
clothes, shoes, china, lamps, artwork, porcelain or jewelry brought me
satisfaction and joy – at least for a little while.
At
times it seemed as if I were merely a collector of things. At one point in the
late 1980’s I had 176 sweaters – and I was living in a sub tropical environment
where the temperature never dipped below 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the midst of
a severe winter. Then I’d be overcome with the need, the moral imperative, to purge
the excess post haste. I would rummage through cabinets, closets, bins, boxes,
chests, and crates tossing items I’d never worn or barely used and would donate
them to charity. Then I would feel free and start all over again.
Now,
the void is gone and I live a life filled with positivity, love, joy and
abundance. But I still shop- although more responsibly - feel cleansed when I eliminate
things that are no longer useful to me. I only donate what is in tip-top shape,
something I would give to my mom or a good friend. It abhors me that so many
people use charitable donation sites as a dump. If it isn’t good enough for
your best friend, it should go in the trash!
So
this evening, both my husband and I were struck with the desire to sweep out
some old and make room for the positive flow of energy. Maybe it is part of the
ritual of spring renewal. But I feel lighter now that my closet is free of
things that no longer bring me joy. Now, time for some vino and home baked
bread.
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