Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about stuff. When I say “stuff” I mean things. Objects. Possessions. I’ve been pondering why we want stuff, why we keep stuff and why we care about stuff, and thinking about my own relationship with things. So it was rather timely when I stumbled across a piece in the latest issue of Frankie called “Stuff Does Matter”. The article was written by Megan Auman who writes about stuff over here. Megan beautifully summed up everything I had been thinking about things, and her words were particularly poignant as Reubs and I packed all our earthly possessions into boxes.
“… I believe that stuff does matter. I believe that caring for things is not wrong. In fact, I believe that our current problems of excess and waste result not because we place too much value on stuff, but too little” Megan says on her website. Those are pretty much my thoughts exactly!
While I strive to live a simple life, less focused on the accumulation of material things, minimalism certainly isn’t for me. Nor is living super frugally and never treating myself to anything nice. Like most people, I like pretty things! I want to surround myself with things I find beautiful. I am also nostalgic about my possessions and attach feelings and memories to objects. While I know it is unhealthy to be driven entirely by the accumulation of stuff, I believe it is natural and perfectly ok to want objects that make us happy, things we find beautiful and items that are meaningful. I believe the problem is not wanting, keeping and treasuring stuff. The problem is not caring about stuff enough. As Megan so eloquently puts it “the current system of production, consumption, and waste from which we get most of our stuff is deeply flawed.” The problem is seeing things as disposable and buying objects for a fleeting moment of pleasure, rather than long term enjoyment.
While packing all our things into boxes last week, I was struck by a couple of things. Firstly, how much stuff we have accumulated in the year since we left Sydney (with just a ute and a tiny trailer!) But secondly, and most importantly, how little we had to throw out this time compared to previous moves. In the past I’ve had a lot of junk to dispose of (mostly trend-based items and impulse buys) but this time I wanted to keep almost everything. Though I still buy things, I’m learning to buy items I will love and treasure for the long haul. I now disregard what’s “in”, in favour of things that fit my personal style. Megan quotes environmentalist writer Jonathan Chapman with “waste is a symptom of a failed relationship” and I think that’s very wise indeed. Instead of entering into short term fling with the latest trendy items, I now aim for long term relationships with lovely, special things. I value hand made. I value things that are made ethically. I value vintage. And I want to surround myself with things I will adore and cherish for years to come. I want the kind of things I will one day pass down to my children, rather than things that will be in landfill by this time next year.
Stuff does matter. Where it comes from, what it means to us, where it goes when we are finished with it; it all matters. Most of us don’t take the time to think much about the role stuff plays in our lives or in the world, but I think it’s really important to consider. Megan’s words while I packed up my stuff were a reminder that while I am on the right path and have come a long way, there is room for a lot of improvement yet.
What do you think? Does stuff matter to you?
Katie x
PS If you are just starting to think about your relationship with stuff, you might like to check out this little video. I also highly recommend Megan’s website. Food for thought!
I collect “stuff”. It creeps in when I get home from work. It jumps in the trolley when I go shopping. It hides in the nooks and crannies at home, so that when I eventually find it I tell myself I must need it cause I bought it so long ago. I can’t help myself when I go to antique fairs and op shops – I have to bring something home. I get distracted by the shiny and the old stuff I see there.
“My name is Dee and I’m a hoarder.” I guess that is part of the reason I love computers. I can collect websites. I can bookmark or pin dozens of pics and there is no clutter
Stuff matters to me, and I too treasure items that are special. I also have issue with my compulsion to aqure more “stuff” I don’t need.
I work as a manager in a homewares and linen store and my days are filled with selling people items they don’t always need, just because it is new they want it. Woking with the product and being a part of the whole “but buy buy” environment means it is really hard to not get caught up in the hype. It is something I am working on through, because although I love nice towels and sheets there is only so many sets two people and a cat need haha
I have decided that I need to live with less, but rather than throwing things out I have tried to freecycle them or donate to friends. I have realised that I don’t need to accumulate stuff, if I own something that is hiding away in a cupboard for months/years on end then is it really something I need to own or is it something that would be better with someone else?
I think what you are talking about is the same thing but you are just considering the other side of the coin – you purged and are now considering you approach to acquisition. We are both, at the end of the day, ensuring that we are only surrounding ourselves with things that bring some value to our lives.
Oh yes, if we no longer want something but it is still useful we always, ALWAYS donate it! Throwing things in the garbage is the very last resort. And yes, I completely agree, I’d much rather something go to someone who can use it rather than sit in the back of the cupboard unloved
Wise words and so true. I also like pretty things and I used to buy quite frequently once upon a time but these days I tend to buy only what I need or really love. It is usually vintage and second hand. I think I’ll take a peek at Megan’s website.
x
I love what you’ve written, Katie. I don’t believe “things” are intrinsically good or bad – just meaningful or not. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with surrounding ourselves with beautiful things, as long as we stay aware of our fleeting nature. In many ways we are preserving stories and memories by hanging on to those things that are imbued with meaning. It’s always especially nice when we can give new life to those beautiful, functional objects from the past. The vintage “movement” is heartwarming in that respect – and good for the planet at the same time. You need go no further than your beautiful blog to see how it connects people.
I love everything you said John! Couldn’t agree more
I agree with you completely! I actually tried being a “minimalist”, but it honestly didn’t feel like me. I also like having pretty things, but I hate clutter. I thinks it’s nice to surround ourselves with things that make us happy, and be confident in our purchases when we want to treat ourselves now and then. I think there’s a happy medium!
xxx Sabrina
http://bbutterflybrain.blogspot.de/
hello, interesting post and links. Stuff is very important to me. I’m always on a quest to simplify but actually I love my stuff too! At the moment I’m trying to move out the stuff that’s not important so I can enjoy the things that are, which for me is my stuff as well as having time to create. My environment is really important too. Heather x
I think stuff matters, but only the stuff that is important and meaningful to us and from my point of view that is what minimalism is all about: surround ourselves with our favourite stuff
minimalism for me is not extreme, like having only 100 things, for me is only having my favourite things and donate the rest to people that really need those things.
Yes, I guess it’s the extreme minimalism stuff I can’t get on board with. Your idea of minimalism sounds much more like my take on things!
I love this post! I think about stuff a lot, I wrestle with it almost all the time. I like to think we are conscious of making things last in our family, my husband still has his ipod from 2004 (seriously) thankfully he is not driven by material things.
It does comfort me to have things around me with memories and sentiment but sometime I do hoard so it is a balance I am trying to acquire
Stuff matters to me to, to some things i have great memories, some things i find so beautiful or special i can’t throw them away and some things i just need, or feel i need. But when i moved from having a little home (full of stuff) to a one room apartment i felt like it was not a bad thing to get rid of a lot. I gave things away to friends or gave it to the second hand store and only kept the essentials. That was so nice! So now I am trying to buy only extra stuff when I really need is, so it won’t build up to a giant shitpile of stuff.
so true. I unfortunately have too much of that junkie stuff that I don’t treasure along with the stuff that I do
Katie, I think your thinking is so right on in this post. I came to similar conclusions last spring (which I wrote about here: http://www.thissortaoldlife.com/2012/05/15/when-things-are-more-than-things/). I think there are different ways to think of minimalism, and that the definitions you’re putting forth here definitely fall within some camps of that movement/idea. Amazing what a move can help us see about our relationships to things.
I love your post Rita. And that rug?! So gorgeous! Thank you for sharing xx
this is a really good post and point not brought up enough! people think it’s silly i spend a decent amount on handbags – but when i point out i own a lot less of them than most girls and how long they last me it doesn’t seem so silly. i buy them after months of research – i never buy a bag i haven’t been considering for at least a month – and i have certain qualities. having stuff isn’t a problem – stuff can tell stories. stuff can last longer than us!
<3 katherineof corgis and cocktails
I love this post! I absolutely love “things”, as I call it. Sometimes I feel guilty because it’s drummed into you that material possessions are bad. I just love to have concrete things that cement the abstract- I have stupid things like carrier bags from gift shops on holiday. It might seem odd but to me, they are physical reminders of those good times.
Becky
xx
It doesn’t seem odd to me Becky! I like to keep physical mementos from good times too. I’m such a sentimental person!
Wow it’s so much good things written there, I never though about this stuff. It would hard for me, because i’m person who gets bored with stuff very fast and I need to update all the time, which is bad, I know that well. But surprisingly there is stuff I love that i never was to throw away even it’s too old to be used.
Katie,
What an excellent way to describe how we should think of our things. I too strive to live simply, yet have certain items in my home that mean the world to me. I guess I’ve never thought about the problem of excess being a result of us not putting enough value on sentimentality and things that mean something to us. Great perspective! Just discovered you blog and I love your message! Look forward to reading more!
Ooh, I just read your about page. I’m moving to a little about 40mins north of Bendigo area next year.
Sarah
Just stumbled onto your blog. Love it!!! And especially love this post as I am always telling my friends that no one appreciates anything anymore as everything is considered disposable because they are making a new and improved version of what you just bought five minutes ago…. I love stuff, especially old stuff that has been passed through my family, and everyone knows that I am a yarn, book, shoe and pet hoarder, so I love that this article says it is ok to be a little bit of a hoarder, as long as what you hoard truly makes you happy, or at least that is what I taking from it, because it suits me to do so, Anyway, just wanted to say hello and that I love the blog!
Love this. We downsized considerably when we moved house 6 months ago. And I’ve continued to purge and take things to the op shop since then in an effort to simplify our lives further.
That’s my vice!
I am a little in love with your sheet stash! That’s divine! I have an ever growing collection of vintage sheets!
Love this post! My husband and I are such collectors and both love finding vintage treasures. Needless to say, we have a lot of stuff! Sometimes I envy the minimalist home but I know I could never part with these pieces of history! And I just love to have pretty, fun things around me! Glad other people understand