Stuff

We are currently in the process of consolidating two houses and downsizing. We are going from 5,000 square feet to 1,000 square feet. We have been collecting “stuff” since our kids were born and although we occasionally we donate items they’ve outgrown, we’ve never done a clean out quite this big.

Lord, do we have stuff. Mountains of stuff. We had kids things that we couldn’t part with until we had for make space for it. Now we have lots of pictures of our old stuff but even the digital stuff will probably be cleaned out at some point.

Thankfully we’ve successfully found spots for 32 years worth of stuff (more if you count that I also had my mom’s stuff, my step mom’s stuff, and some of my grandmother’s stuff… not to mention a bit of stuff from other family members too). AND we’ve done this without getting a storage unit!!!! I don’t judge you if you need to have a storage unit. There are many good reasons people have them. But I knew that my stuff wasn’t really storage-worthy. If someone could use my stuff now, I sold it or donated it. I can get more stuff later. We’re definitely blessed to be in this position.

So how did we do it? And more importantly, what did we learn from it? I’m so glad you asked!

1. We asked ourselves….if this got covered in poo, would we do everything possible to clean it off or replace it? This was a game-changer and a very good litmus test for the emotional pull of an item. Photos of people I don’t know? Trash. Framed photos of grandma? Kept one. Scanned the rest. Art projects from elementary school? Kept one per kid…took pictures of the rest.
2. We also asked, …will one of our kids need something like this in the next five years? Kitchen items? Most likely yes. We have a corner of the attic of our Cartersville home that is for duplicate appliances or kitchen items. If they don’t claim them before our next move, then they don’t get attic space there.
3. Finally we asked about opportunity cost.…if we got a storage unit for this vs selling it and buying a new one later….how much money would we save? Given that most things like a fridge or washer/dryer have shorter lifespans than they used to and there is no guarantee that they’ll run after our next move, we opted to sell.

But what did we learn?

I always knew we were probably over-consuming. We didn’t NEED a lot of the things we had. It was nice to have more, but how much more was gluttonous or excessive? I’m still not sure I have the answer to that but one night while pondering this question, I came upon the documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix. We’ve been programmed to over-consume. And now that I know better, I’m doing better. Here’s what I’ve done:

• I took the Amazon app off my phone. That cut down my purchases by 50%. And when I do need something, I’ll go on my laptop and put it in my shopping cart for a few days before I order it. This cuts things by at least another 20%.
• I look for other ways to find joy. I never realized the dopamine hit I was getting from online shopping (and I honestly didn’t do it as much as the average American does). So instead, I make sure I’m getting that in other, healthier ways. I color, journal, go for a walk, or do something else that is “productive” but not consumptive.
• I have leaned into finding places that recycle the non-recyclable items and repurpose where I can. I’ve found who takes the glass and plastics higher than #3. I set them aside. Even with all of the donating and selling of items, we still had to throw a lot away and it broke my heart to think of how much I was adding to landfills. I’m more mindful…will this item take up space later in a way that is harmful to humans, either physically or mentally?

Why does this matter? Decluttering is more than just tidying up; it’s a profound act of stewardship and intentional living. By letting go of excess, we create space not only in our homes but also in our hearts and minds, allowing us to focus on what truly matters. This process reflects a deeper spiritual truth: God calls us to live simply, free from the weight of material possessions that can distract us from God’s purpose. Decluttering teaches us gratitude for what we have, generosity in sharing with others, and mindfulness in our consumption. It’s a way to honor God by aligning our lives with God’s values of simplicity, care for creation, and love for others. Through this journey, we have found freedom, clarity, and a renewed connection to both our faith and our purpose.

Until Everyone Hears,

Dr K.

P.S. – Oh, and if you want the wine glasses in the photo, they are for sale. We counted 35 different wine glasses in our home. Only one of us drinks wine. And only about one glass a month. We have never purchased wine glasses. All of them were gifts.