Sydney Avey

Dynamic Woman — Changing Times

Great Giveaway: shedding 365 possessions

Dec 28, 2015 | Fun, Great Giveaway | 0 comments

Less is more

At some point the accumulation clock strikes twelve and resets expectations.

It’s time for The Great Giveaway when the accumulation clock strikes twelve and resets expectations.

This is the year of my great giveaway. My Advent readings say people believe more possessions will make them happy. When you are young and poor, yes, but at some point the accumulation clock strikes twelve and resets expectations. These days, it seems anything I acquire must be managed, cared for, and accommodated. I want less to manage, fewer things to fuss about, more free space.

We are working toward paring down to free up time and money to spend in places we love. We want to dig deeply into our passions. No big decisions yet, but reducing our cache of stuff will make transitions that are sure to come easier.

Habit-producing actions encourage a new life style

As a mindfulness exercise, I plan to get rid of one thing a day. At the end of the year I will have a revealing list of 365 things I no longer possess. If nothing significant appears on that list, I’m likely making little progress toward my goal.

What qualifies as a great giveaway? A mismatched spoon in a drawer; a subscription renewal; a computer app; a bad habit. Donate it, delete it, or give it up to God. Additions to the landfill don’t count.

Keep great giveaway rules simple

Rule #1: Whatever gets tossed, is not replaced. Throwing away a misshapen sweater and buying a new one doesn’t count. Donating a half-century of heavy coats in favor of one lightweight, all-purpose jacket counts. Points if I can buy it with Amazon Prime gift cards. Bonus points if an activity goes out the door with an item.

Ditching those cookie cutters that jam my drawers means I will never again bake gingerbread men, so points for that. When was the last time I baked g-men, anyway? In my mind it’s a satisfying activity that makes my house smell heavenly. In reality, hardened dough must be scraped off the counters, flour swept from the floor. And the little men taste like cardboard after they cool, turn hard, and lose a limb in the process.. I’d do better to light a cinnamon stick and wave it in the air.

Rule #2: Don’t overthink it. This should be spontaneous fun, not an occasion for self-deprecation.

On January 1, I think the first thing to go will be my addiction to the nightly news.

photo credit: 5 minutes to midnight via photopin (license)

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