Enrich

Why are we so attached to things? Is it proof of our worth, an extension of our competence? Is it holding on to things that remind us of our past selves, of our past passions, of our past successes? Is accumulating objects something that helps us pass the time? Is it fear or loss that compels us to collect, hoard, amass?

Beyond the toilet paper craze and the pandemic, there are other events this year, such as the Australian bushfires, that have made me think about simplifying my home. I’ve got an entire room in my house that is just filled with boxes from floor to ceiling. To be fair, I moved house in early March, just before the lockdown. I have moved so very many times in the last decade but this last move, amidst the growing pandemic, really made me reflect on the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of things that I buy and keep, but more importantly it has allowed me to uncover what I truly value. Apart from the necessary things that allow me to sustain a healthy and nourishing life for me and my daughter, what I really value is connection. The lockdown reinforced this epiphany.

If there was an emergency, a bushfire let’s say, all I would care about is taking my daughter in my arms and running out with just our small suitcase of priceless photos and family heirlooms. Everything else can be replaced. Most of my photos now are up in the Cloud anyway and all my savings are in the bank. I would not want to be enslaved by my things. The pandemic, news of people being ill, or suffering from job losses and other hardships have given me this new perspective on being ‘rich’. Instead of accumulating objects and wealth, I commit to enriching my life with meaningful relationships, my mind with principles and memories. I would like to be conscious of the things that I allow to fill my daily life which should be sources of delight and nourishment instead of stress and irritation.

Appreciate owning very little. No one can own every shell in the sea. And seashells are so much more beautiful in isolation!Dominique Loreau