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how does your living space,
reflect your buddhism? I was thinking as I have a week off (has not happened in over 5 years unless a brief vacation) and I am doing a major deep cleaning/purge about how I want my space to be very clean and uncluttered. Okay NOT there yet, although my son's room is looking pristine. I am ready to pack all the knick knacks and even most of the books just to clear it all out. I have by American standards a pretty small and older house I rent, for the city it is pretty good but I lived in the 'burbs for so long that by those standards it is tiny. I like it much better honestly, just trying to adjust again.
For background, I moved here about 1 1/2 years ago from a large suburban house that I lost in foreclosure (tried to short sale) and downsized over 50% of everything I owned. Like 4 couches down to 1. So it took awhile to be ready for another huge purge, but I can't figure out why I have much of this stuff.
Okay rambling after day 2 of major work.
For background, I moved here about 1 1/2 years ago from a large suburban house that I lost in foreclosure (tried to short sale) and downsized over 50% of everything I owned. Like 4 couches down to 1. So it took awhile to be ready for another huge purge, but I can't figure out why I have much of this stuff.
Okay rambling after day 2 of major work.
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Comments
Much easier said than done. It could require two passes. The 2nd pass is for the stuff you don't need but are attached to for whatever reason.
Don't forget to enjoy some of this time off! Don't fill it all up with chores, give yourself time to veg, or to enjoy a nice, long, relaxing soak in the tub, to take walks, get a massage, listen to music, whatever relaxes you and gives you enjoyment. Don't be a workaholic on the only week off you've had in over 5 years.
I am hyper and bummed because my 'undefined relationship' is being a good son in Texas helping his mother build a new shed. So usually I would do more fun things. Alas, it is not so. I am trying not to be attached to how much I want him to take me to dinner tonight,
We gave sooo much to goodwill last purge. It was crazy, I felt good about it and threw away anything that was really trash, but still. I can't really think of things I regretted giving away. I got TV shows on DVD for Christmas so after dinner is ready I will chill with that.
That's probably a good sign, that he's into helping his mom. It means he's thoughtful of women.
So I let the kids use the car to go help their sister. She is cleaning impaired so they go over and clean and hang out. Kinda funny when a 14 yo boy tells his 21 yo sister that her apartment is terrible and he is coming to clean.
So back on topic, I want to have this pristine kinda Zen place but even less cluttered than the average home it is still a lot more stuff than anywhere near that monastic clean. That is ok, so much of art on the walls are made by my kids. Ya know others have family photos and I have my kids' photo shoots.
I'm a glutton for holding onto the past, so I've photos everywhere, and old military memorabilia. I'd hate to chuck this stuff out in case I regret it when I'm older.
How ruthless should we be?
Do you have a "thing" you like to keep? A type of collection? That can be hard to deal with. For example, I'm a total book-hoarder!
What kind of books do you like to keep?
Well, I went through a serious Mayan phase for over a decade. Archaeology and anthropology in general, cultures, human evolution. Buddhism, of course. I have a small NDE book collection. I've never been able to relate to fiction. I like autobiographies of political figures, because you learn a lot about how politics works, and about behind-the-scenes negotiating that doesn't get reported in the papers. Carter is good on that score, for example.
Wow, it sounds like you enjoy reading some really interesting topics! I think, if you use them as part of your life, it's not so much "hoarding" as over-collecting. I think the real hoarding comes in when you can't find what you have, or what you have is destroyed because you don't look after it.
As I type this, actually, I'm watching Hoarders on tv. I wonder if some of these people would benefit from Buddhism, given the extreme levels of attachment?
I got more done, I have had issues answering the phone and opening mail since I started my short sale 2 years ago. Part of trying to deal with that has been also discovering the bi-polar brain and my hypomanic phases. I am adjusting, I lived life like that and you can get so much done! But I wasn't doing what needed to be done. So I face my really trashed credit report, opened all the envelopes finally, and found most bills were really small but some are a problem since I put them off for so long. I am just effortlessly practicing self compassion for once. I think I can clear the whole pile with the money I have or within the next month. That is AMAZING, low wage, single mom, added expense of kids' insurance, I think that covers it. So I had to put aside the physical decluttering and clean up the paperwork/financial mess which is very good.
I've got a free day; I'll have another clear out and drop my books off at the charity shop.
I think I'll have to do this 'little by little'; but I can really see the value of having less stuff; especially the stuff I don't use. And there could be some merit in letting others have it.