To Hell With Things!!

Shall we speak of clutter?

Long before I made the decision to be independent of mind and even longer before I made the decision to move to Guatemala, I had a problem. Clutter.

Clutter of the house, clutter of the soul and clutter of the mind. A few years ago I made a move from a small beach town in Northern Michigan to a larger beach town. This move required the biggest U-Haul possible, two full sedans, one full SUV, a full pick-up and a full trailer. This was all for 3 people. After that move came another, this one by myself, to an apartment. I, once again, required the services of U-Haul’s biggest truck.

During my time in my perfect downtown pad I became annoyed with all of the clutter. I could barely move! What the hell was so very important about all of this shit?? And so, day by day, more and more of the clutter disappeared. I would open a box and see memories or garbage (oftentimes being the same thing) that no longer seemed at all necessary and thus, would haul the box to the dumpster. Each time I left, I made a point of taking something with me, never to be seen again. Slowly, my apartment appeared less like a storage unit and more like the home that it actually was.

I threw away pictures, dishes, clothing, horrid décor, Christmas junk and all manner of other unsavory and thus unwanted bric-a-brac. Then, Guatemala happened.

When I decided that I would be moving to Guatemala, I knew that I would not be taking anymore than 3 suitcases with me. And so, once again, I opened up my home to strangers and garbage men. I sold, gave away or threw away almost everything that I had. By the time that I moved into my last bit of temporary housing before my big move, I comfortably fit everything that I owned into my Chrysler Concorde. And then all of that was gone, including the car.

The more of “me” that I saw leave, the more free I began to feel. Fewer things defined me, fewer things held me down. Suddenly, I was a man with no home, very little possessions and the most at ease mind that I had ever experienced. That is when I became a fan of “minimalism.” I shall live by that little label for the remainder of my life.

Now, with exactly one month remaining until I leave Guatemala, I find myself minimalizing again. I will not board that plane with more than 2 pieces of checked luggage. This means that further clutter must be vanquished. I sit here in this office with a garbage bag full of things that, one year and two months ago, I thought I could not live without. My purging is not yet finished, many more things will be given away or thrown out before I leave.

This whole experience has taught me many things. Pictures of Chicago are replaceable, for one, I do not need the heavy frames or weighty memories attached. Also, one’s house is much like one’s soul. Too much clutter will make you feel as though you are suffocating beneath the weight of you. Free your mind, and the rest will follow, as they say.

With each garbage bag and free item, I feel that old weight lifting off of me yet again. My world is becoming lighter, more manageable, more maneuverable, more free.
This life is much like that small downtown apartment that I had. At first, it appeared as though I were some sort of pack rat, intent on living within my own filth. I let it all in, all of the thoughts and all of the garbage that came along with them. Then, I decided to change and with that change came peace, tranquility and a form of light that I had never known. I continue to shape and mold, I continue to throw things out.

Life is a series of transitions. Take my advice, leave the bags behind, start anew with each transition. Life will provide all that you need and more.