Not in a Jen Hatmaker kind of way, where you test your personal materialism in an extreme way by removing things that you actually use and need. But in the more unsuspecting, almost innocent way that it sneaks into our lives and over time convinces us that we need a bigger house or gasp...a storage unit.
Let me be clear, when I breach a topic like "American materialism", I'm not coming from a place of condescension. The Spirit is the one that convicts you, not me. So if anything I say puts a little twinge of twisted discomfort in your stomach....I think you should listen to it and ask the Lord what it is HE is trying to say, and leave me the heck out of it, because I literally know nothing.
So let me be transparent about where I am on this topic...
- We currently have nine of those large plastic bins full of infant and toddler clothes in our house right now....NINE
- My closet is no better. I definitely wear 20% of my wardrobe 80% of the time...it could be 10/90
- On more than one occasion I have felt actual anxiety while putting groceries away that I just purchased at the store because there is no room for them in my refrigerator, freezer or pantry.
- We have a bin system for our toys... there are four bins with toys split equally among them. At any given time we only have one bin of toys available for current play + a handful of universal toys that always stay out (i.e. Play kitchen, wooden block set, foam ABC tiles). Our toy room is full and OVERFLOWING even while 3/4 of our toys are packed away.
- Don't get me started on make up, lotion and other beauty product samples that I've hoarded away. "Would you like some samples?" "Yes! I will never use them but let me have them ALL!!"
In fact, about two years ago, I decided to find all of my unopened mascara samples and use them up before I bought another tube of mascara. I'm still using samples today! I had TWO YEARS WORTH OF MASCARA JUST SITTING AROUND! Side note: One thing I've learned is they basically all look the exact same and none of them really do anything extra for your lashes. Second side note: now that I'm not buying beauty products from department stores anymore, this has gone waaaay down.
Relatable? Or just me?
Relatable? Or just me?
Why are we doing this?
How do we get to this point that we are falling for the lie that excess is better?
You know I recently heard of a study that showed kids engage in more productive and imaginative play when they have a less toys available. In fact, I heard this study referenced two times from two different sources in the past two weeks.
I wonder how this applies to adults and our stuff?
You know when you hear things more than once?
It grabs your attention, because you have to stop and remember where you just recently heard it? I don't ever think those are accidents. So I've been tossing this around in my head a lot over the past few days. Less stuff results in higher quality interaction.
It grabs your attention, because you have to stop and remember where you just recently heard it? I don't ever think those are accidents. So I've been tossing this around in my head a lot over the past few days. Less stuff results in higher quality interaction.
Another thing I've heard at least three times during this past month of January is the quote by Theodore Roosevelt, "Comparison is the thief of joy". Now you've heard it at least once.
So if excess causes us to be less productive and imaginative, AND if comparing our excess with the excess of others steals our joy, really, what are we doing? Why can't we stop?
This is not one of those problems that is an overarching thing that has to be fixed from the top down. This is something we are each individually doing to our own selves.
So how do we fix it?
First I think we have to search our hearts to see if were even motivated to be different. Do we even care?
I realize I care much more now that I'm throwing away and donating baby stuff when I remember how much money was spent on those things. But this realization has to carry over into future action.
Second we all need a dose of humility. There's humility in choosing to purchase resale versus new. I remember when preparing for my first baby, I had the actual thought that I would never (or rarely) put him in used or old clothes...he deserved better. This was MY CHILD! Who knows how someone else treated these items! Everything needed to be new, from the clothes, to the baby gear to the nursery decor. Hindsight is so clear on how misled I was.
Third, Live Open-Handedly. When you see a need from someone around you and you can meet it...then do it! Chances are if you're going to need it again you can probably get it back or find another one. There are very few items in the world that are worth holding onto more than a generous heart.
So here is my plan of action for the issues I confessed earlier in this post.
Clothes:
The nine bins are just ridiculous. Now I can sit here and try to rationalize it. We weren't sure if we were having a boy or a girl so we kept everything. We have both genders, so naturally we have more things. I plan to sell some of it, so I don't want to give it away yet. Oh my word. It's just out of control.
Third, Live Open-Handedly. When you see a need from someone around you and you can meet it...then do it! Chances are if you're going to need it again you can probably get it back or find another one. There are very few items in the world that are worth holding onto more than a generous heart.
So here is my plan of action for the issues I confessed earlier in this post.
Clothes:
The nine bins are just ridiculous. Now I can sit here and try to rationalize it. We weren't sure if we were having a boy or a girl so we kept everything. We have both genders, so naturally we have more things. I plan to sell some of it, so I don't want to give it away yet. Oh my word. It's just out of control.
Buy used when you can. It helps more than I ever realized. I wish I had done it and I'm doing it now when I can.
Have you heard of capsule wardrobes? Surely yes. They've been all the rage for a few years now.
I basically (not officially) operate with a capsule wardrobe myself, but just a little confession here, I still have all the clothes hanging in my closet that are not included in my "Capsule". I literally could sweep my arm across about 3 feet of clothes hangers and just take them out. I wouldn't even have to check them.
Children should have capsule wardrobes!! Seriously, why haven't I been doing this!
Get rid of the things you don't use. (speaking to myself) The tip I've heard is to take everything out and then only put back in the things that you use/need. You will feel FREEDOM (supposedly)
If you're going to sell it. ACTUALLY SELL IT. Put a low price tag on it and consider yourself honored that you could bless someone with a great deal.
Food:
I know why I have a mini panic attack when there's no room in my fridge for my new groceries.
Because it's excessive, gluttonous and yes, selfish to buy things we don't need before using up what we have.
Oh I do not want to be called any of those words.
I tell my kids they can't eat something new until they eat what they already have, yet I walk in a different way. Even subconsciously this reality must weigh on my heart.
Sometimes when I get good and feisty, I'll tell myself it's because I have the wrong kind of fridge to store my food. Side-by-sides are not as effective as the French Doors. That's what I NEED.
Throwing away food sheds light on a gross misuse of our planet's resources. This past summer, we grew some food in a miniature garden in our yard. At the end of the season, I was looking for ways to cook and use tomatoes. Even the green, non-ripe ones. Unless it was rotted, we were eating it. It was such an enlightening way to look at food, instead of just, "oh, it went bad, I'll just buy another one next time I'm at the store".
Jk...I only do curbside.
Toys:
I need to take a hard look at what the excess in this area of our home is doing to my children's worldview's. Are they adopting an idea that excess is better? Are they becoming little mini-hoarders? A quick introspection does not reveal good results. Teaching generosity now is going to build a foundation for them. It may not be how they choose to live their own lives, but as I've gotten older, I realize that things from my childhood are deeply embedded inside of me and my thought process. We owe it to our kids not to set them up for failure in this area despite the fact that they are responsible for their own choices.
I promise. I'm not trying to be harsh or judgmental. I truly have just felt conviction around this topic of excess and how it is stealing freedom and joy when I enslave myself to the trap of excess. Where is the excess in your life stealing joy? Where is simplicity bringing freedom? Lean into those things because our stuff should be serving us, not causing us to serve it.
Good luck and send me your tips!!
Oh I do not want to be called any of those words.
I tell my kids they can't eat something new until they eat what they already have, yet I walk in a different way. Even subconsciously this reality must weigh on my heart.
Sometimes when I get good and feisty, I'll tell myself it's because I have the wrong kind of fridge to store my food. Side-by-sides are not as effective as the French Doors. That's what I NEED.
Throwing away food sheds light on a gross misuse of our planet's resources. This past summer, we grew some food in a miniature garden in our yard. At the end of the season, I was looking for ways to cook and use tomatoes. Even the green, non-ripe ones. Unless it was rotted, we were eating it. It was such an enlightening way to look at food, instead of just, "oh, it went bad, I'll just buy another one next time I'm at the store".
Jk...I only do curbside.
Toys:
I need to take a hard look at what the excess in this area of our home is doing to my children's worldview's. Are they adopting an idea that excess is better? Are they becoming little mini-hoarders? A quick introspection does not reveal good results. Teaching generosity now is going to build a foundation for them. It may not be how they choose to live their own lives, but as I've gotten older, I realize that things from my childhood are deeply embedded inside of me and my thought process. We owe it to our kids not to set them up for failure in this area despite the fact that they are responsible for their own choices.
I promise. I'm not trying to be harsh or judgmental. I truly have just felt conviction around this topic of excess and how it is stealing freedom and joy when I enslave myself to the trap of excess. Where is the excess in your life stealing joy? Where is simplicity bringing freedom? Lean into those things because our stuff should be serving us, not causing us to serve it.
Good luck and send me your tips!!
