People, Not Possessions

The clutter busting will continue this weekend, three days where I have only light calendar activities. My house needs a good top to bottom clean as we've done nothing more than bare maintenance cleaning since before Christmas. I might give a go to posting a few things on the local Facebook site as I purge, try to build up the little side accounts I'm creating for the end of year splurges and making progress towards our massive 2017 savings goals. These possessions add no value to my life, but if anything sells, the funds will help us travel, send DD2 to college, and secure an early retirement, investments in people. DD2 will be in town for a bit this weekend for tasks for her friends May wedding and she and I will plan the shower she is hosting at my house. Reduced clutter by then will be greatly appreciated.

I'd like to take some pictures of my progress, practicing my photography, with my camera, but my cell phone may have to do. DD2 borrowed my camera for a school project, then loaned it to her friend who was doing some more filming, and uploading on her computer. I was annoyed with her for offering the camera prior to consulting with me. I also was worried it would get lost, stolen while unattended at school, or broken. Both girls are responsible, and it is a handy little camera for a small student film project. It's just a possession, just like anything else, and my daughter is more important. I got over my annoyance. What good are things, if they are not used to add to the quality of life? I use it perhaps one-two times per week, but they will be greatly aided in completing a quality project.

After my whininess about the delay in my furniture delivery, we turned our attention to getting the gas fireplace back in commission. We had an appointment yesterday, but it got cancelled. My first thought,. again, was annoyance, until DH told me they were short staffed due to a couple family emergencies, and an unusually high volume of furnace calls. While our fireplace does provide heat, it is not primary heat, so  falls into aesthetic want rather than the need category. The technicians deserve time to take care of their emergencies, and people doing without heat, as it is still cold here at night in spite of the January thaw, is a higher priority than me having a cozy fire. I notice I get annoyed frequently, and it is a pill of a feeling!

I read some posts in the UK about the January sales that sound every bit as horrific as some Black Friday horror stories. Shoppers loading entire carts with discounted items, wiping out shelves, taking things out of others carts, and pushing and poking to get the the merchandise. If I never participate in a mad sale again, I will be happy. I love getting the good buy on things my family will use (cheap pumpkin anyone?), but seeing humans at their gluttonous worst? No thank you. 

I remember the motto from the Art of Simple."Live simply so that others may simply live."  What a luxury and a blessing, to be able to have enough resources and choice to do this. I'm trying hard to think first of people, not possessions.