So I?m getting myself situated in my new loft. The process so far has been exciting, difficult, nerve racking, wonderful, exasperating and liberating.
A couple of years ago I went through an ?involuntary downsizing? of my life and possessions. At the time it was remarkably hard, but it helped open my eyes to an emergent sense of ?wanting less.?
This time I am choosing a sort of voluntary simplicity (which is not the same as austere Asceticism). You could sort of call it a seriously deep spring cleaning. I am divesting myself of things like the guitar I purchased at 12 and never learned more that the first couple notes of ?Song Sung Blue? and the chorus to ?Ghost Riders in the Sky?, useless bits and pieces of outdated technology, relics I have outgrown, fodder from past times that only seemed meaningful because of the time and place they were acquired but seldom saw the light of day and a myriad useless trinkets and knickknacks that no longer have me in their thrall. Overall I am reassessing the value of the ?things? in my life.
I guess it was synchronicity that I received this message the other day. It sums up my feeling quite nicely:
In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.
It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.
When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.
Right now I’m recuperating from Vegas (which was a blast), moving/settling into a new apartment, trying to overcome a cold, running three major campaigns at work in addition to my normal workload and trying to breathe.
Vegas baby! I’m all set for a MUCH needed vacation to the entertainment mecca. Although there will be a few work files tucked away neatly in my carry-on bag, I fully expect to relax and enjoy.
History is a pesky little thing; just when you think it is a thing of the past, you begin to wonder if you are actually caught up, smack dab in the middle of the history of the future. So, I recently spent some time looking at an educational holocaust Web site (it is important to know/remember your past, so you are not doomed to repeat it).
I learned/was reminded of a few things:
FASCISM
Form of government based on a one-party dictatorship, militarism, ultra-nationalism, absolute conformity, and intolerance for civil and human rights. According to The New Lexicon Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, fascism is any political or social ideology of the extreme right which rules on a combination of pseudo religious attitudes and the brutal use of force for getting and keeping power.
PROPAGANDA
An organized plan to promote biased information, derogatory ideas or practices, transmitted in speeches, Slogans, posters, newspapers, film, television etc. Propaganda necessarily involves the capitulation or control of the press, such as happens in the reportage of ?very few points?.
DER STURMER
A weekly German newspaper which published anti-Semitic propaganda and cartoons from 1923 to 1945.
INTIMIDATION
Inspire with fear in order to influence conduct.
SEGREGATION
Isolation and/or separation of an individual or group.
In my defense, some mass e-mails are funny. So, the words I post below are not my own:
Ten Peeves that Dogs Have About Humans
1. Blaming your farts on me… not funny… not funny at all !!!
2. Yelling at me for barking.. I’M A FRIGGIN’ DOG, YOU IDIOT!
3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway?
4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose… stop it!
5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you’re not home.
6. The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Whoooo Hoooooooo what a proud moment for the top of the food chain.
7. Taking me to the vet for “the big snip”, then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!
8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven’t quite mastered that handshake thing yet.
9.Dog sweaters. Hello ???, Haven’t you noticed the fur?
10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth, you’re just jealous.
Now lay off me on some of these thing’s, We both know who’s boss here!!! You don’t see me picking up your poop do you ???
Because one can never spend TOO much time in personal, self-reflection:
I continue to muse over whether I am overly attracted to order and harmonic asymmetry; or whether certain types of chaos and disarray vehemently repel me. I?m sure one of these forces pulls me with greater force, but I am hard pressed to determine which one it is.