Is your “stuff” keeping you from enjoying a fuller life?

Recently I saw some men emptying a home by throwing the contents of the home in a large dumpster.  The home owner and occupant had passed away a few weeks prior.  I don’t know if these men were of some relation to the deceased one but I got a strong sense that they probably didn’t understand how much value was in the items that were being discarded. I began to wonder how the former occupant might have felt if alive to see all of their hard earned worldly possessions being dumped. Why didn’t family members hold a yard sale?

Then I thought about my recent move and the dozens of 30 gallon trash bags I filled and had carted away to the trash. My rationale? I don’t need this stuff and I’d hate for anyone to have to sort through all this unnecessary stuff in the event of the untimely death.  Mind you, I still have a lot of “stuff” – and I’m still not done with the throwing out spree, but in the meantime, I’m not bringing anymore unnecessary “stuff” into my life either – and this past Christmas I specifically told my family I wanted no gifts.

I once heard someone say that when we go to the grave the U-haul truck doesn’t follow behind our caskets.  It is true.  All the “stuff” we have which is of great value to us does not have the same value to anyone else- if any value at all.  We spend a lot of time gathering “stuff”, collecting and holding on to “stuff”, and getting upset when our “stuff” is lost, stolen, or destroyed.  And in the meantime we’ve lost out on the real purpose of us being on earth: to live!  “Stuff” can hold us back and keep us living a fuller life.

Today I encourage you to take your focus off your “stuff” – your personal belongings, your money and all the things you’re holding on to “just in case,” and take time to truly enjoy life! Enjoy the outdoors. Take a walk.  Sit off with a friend. Take a drive. Go to a movie.  Laugh with somebody. Watch a movie. Your “stuff” will be there when  you need it – but will become someone else’s responsibility after you have left this earth.  Enjoy life!