Comments on: 8 Ways to Say Goodbye (to your stuff) http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/ Augmented Humanity, Second Selves, and Cybernetic Yoga Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:03:11 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Everett Bogue http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 Everett Bogue Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:15:43 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1399 Wow, that's awesome Philipp, it's so inspiring to hear that you've streamlined your possessions so much in such a short amount of time. I think you'll find if you get smaller speakers they'll sound almost as good. I've heard some smaller systems that just blow my mind, speakers don't need to be as big as they used to be. I'm beginning to feel pretty certain 150 items is like the 'liberation point' where people start to become untangled. 100 is ideal, but 150 seems to be the threshold. Good luck with everything! Wow, that’s awesome Philipp, it’s so inspiring to hear that you’ve streamlined your possessions so much in such a short amount of time.

I think you’ll find if you get smaller speakers they’ll sound almost as good. I’ve heard some smaller systems that just blow my mind, speakers don’t need to be as big as they used to be.

I’m beginning to feel pretty certain 150 items is like the ‘liberation point’ where people start to become untangled. 100 is ideal, but 150 seems to be the threshold.

Good luck with everything!

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By: Philipp http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1396 Philipp Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:16:25 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1396 I have a pile of stuff in my room lying somewhere I can see it everyday. That is my "outbox". I will wait up to a month and if I have no use for something from it I will sell it or give it away. This way I don't forget about my plan to declutter because the stuff is right in front of me and not in some drawer or box where I can't see it and is out of my mind. For the big things I own it's a little bit harder. I try to get myself to sell my big stereo speakers because I don't want to move with them. Also I plan to trade my iMac and my netbook in for a notebook. Those things are a bit more difficult to me, but why, I don't know ... yet. I'm trying to achieve the goal of having 100 things. But only if it's practical at the time. Now I'm somewhere below 150 things (without counting my outbox) and it's really liberating. I have a pile of stuff in my room lying somewhere I can see it everyday. That is my “outbox”. I will wait up to a month and if I have no use for something from it I will sell it or give it away. This way I don’t forget about my plan to declutter because the stuff is right in front of me and not in some drawer or box where I can’t see it and is out of my mind.

For the big things I own it’s a little bit harder. I try to get myself to sell my big stereo speakers because I don’t want to move with them. Also I plan to trade my iMac and my netbook in for a notebook. Those things are a bit more difficult to me, but why, I don’t know … yet.

I’m trying to achieve the goal of having 100 things. But only if it’s practical at the time. Now I’m somewhere below 150 things (without counting my outbox) and it’s really liberating.

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By: Everett Bogue http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1395 Everett Bogue Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:24:15 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1395 All great suggestions. Thanks Jesse, I always appreciate your input! All great suggestions. Thanks Jesse, I always appreciate your input!

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By: Jesse http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1393 Jesse Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:14:47 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1393 Sorry to horn in here Everett, but I have a couple of suggestions for other readers, so if I may: @Jerry - Try suggesting what my mom did, she took her favorite works of kid art from my and my sister, arranged them artfully on a neutral backdrop and took some pictures. Then they went the way of the rest of the paperwork, we ritualistically shredded them. It was an amazingly cathartic act for all of us. @Robyn - Actually, same story. I scanned in my college diploma so I always have an image of it, then into the shredder. Now, I ended up needing an actual official diploma for something, so I had to contact the university and order one...but they can always do that for you too. Just call ahead to make sure! Jesse Sorry to horn in here Everett, but I have a couple of suggestions for other readers, so if I may:

@Jerry – Try suggesting what my mom did, she took her favorite works of kid art from my and my sister, arranged them artfully on a neutral backdrop and took some pictures. Then they went the way of the rest of the paperwork, we ritualistically shredded them. It was an amazingly cathartic act for all of us.

@Robyn – Actually, same story. I scanned in my college diploma so I always have an image of it, then into the shredder. Now, I ended up needing an actual official diploma for something, so I had to contact the university and order one…but they can always do that for you too. Just call ahead to make sure!

Jesse

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By: Everett Bogue http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1392 Everett Bogue Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:05:03 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1392 I gave my diploma to my mom, and she has it somewhere. In my mind it's simply a fancy piece of paper. It is the education that matters. I gave my diploma to my mom, and she has it somewhere. In my mind it’s simply a fancy piece of paper. It is the education that matters.

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By: Robyn http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1391 Robyn Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:47:01 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1391 ok - here's a dumb one - does anyone have advice on what to do with a big, beautifully framed college diploma? It was a big deal to my mom back in the day. Too long ago to have it hanging in my room. It's been sitting in the back of my almost empty closet but I feel I can't just give it away - who'd want it? I almost used it for a White Elephant gift at a work party but chickened out. Does anyone else have mementos like this they just can't let go of yet? Thanks for any thoughts and advice! ok – here’s a dumb one – does anyone have advice on what to do with a big, beautifully framed college diploma? It was a big deal to my mom back in the day. Too long ago to have it hanging in my room. It’s been sitting in the back of my almost empty closet but I feel I can’t just give it away – who’d want it? I almost used it for a White Elephant gift at a work party but chickened out.
Does anyone else have mementos like this they just can’t let go of yet?
Thanks for any thoughts and advice!

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By: Everett Bogue http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1389 Everett Bogue Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:36:35 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1389 That's a great question Jerry. Honestly I can't think of a definitive answer. The truth is that handling minimalism in a relationship is a balance. It's important to voice your concerns to your wife, and maybe someday she'll decide she doesn't need the snow man anymore. You have power over what you choose to do with the possessions that are under your domain. Set the best example with those as a starting point. The rest may naturally follow. That’s a great question Jerry. Honestly I can’t think of a definitive answer. The truth is that handling minimalism in a relationship is a balance. It’s important to voice your concerns to your wife, and maybe someday she’ll decide she doesn’t need the snow man anymore.

You have power over what you choose to do with the possessions that are under your domain. Set the best example with those as a starting point. The rest may naturally follow.

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By: Jerry http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1388 Jerry Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:49:22 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1388 Excellent post. I am currently in a process of shedding all of my belongings. However my dear wife and I seem to have an issue with Childrens art and things our daughter makes at school. (She's 3). I cannot imagine when I am 60 that I'll sit around gazing at a snowman made of cotton balls. Do you have any advice on how to approach this? Excellent post. I am currently in a process of shedding all of my belongings. However my dear wife and I seem to have an issue with Childrens art and things our daughter makes at school. (She’s 3). I cannot imagine when I am 60 that I’ll sit around gazing at a snowman made of cotton balls. Do you have any advice on how to approach this?

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By: Everett Bogue http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1385 Everett Bogue Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:31:46 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1385 Charley, that's a great solution for your stuff, thanks for sharing that with us. I think you'll find after a year of storage you'll figure out you needed less than you do. I think it's fine to not count shared essentials under the 100 personal things. I felt the same way Jesse, when I moved to Portland. I left behind a box of things in New York, and when I got stopped by NY last month I choose to just abandon most of the stuff in that box. It was all unnecessary keepsakes and nonsense I hadn't used in the two months in Portland. Perhaps just take the luggage back to Seattle? Thanks so much for commenting everyone. Does anyone else have interesting stories to share about getting rid of stuff? Charley, that’s a great solution for your stuff, thanks for sharing that with us. I think you’ll find after a year of storage you’ll figure out you needed less than you do. I think it’s fine to not count shared essentials under the 100 personal things.

I felt the same way Jesse, when I moved to Portland. I left behind a box of things in New York, and when I got stopped by NY last month I choose to just abandon most of the stuff in that box. It was all unnecessary keepsakes and nonsense I hadn’t used in the two months in Portland.

Perhaps just take the luggage back to Seattle?

Thanks so much for commenting everyone.

Does anyone else have interesting stories to share about getting rid of stuff?

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By: Jesse http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/why-you-need-to-say-goodbye-to-your-stuff/comment-page-1/#comment-1384 Jesse Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:17:13 +0000 http://www.farbeyondthestars.com/?p=783#comment-1384 I'm right there with you Everett. I would just like to add one thing, if you're starting from a place full of STUFF, like I did - start slow. It really helps. I love the idea of an outbox, that's basically what I've had others do and it works amazingly well. Just don't try to empty your entire life's worth of STUFF in one fell swoop unless you're truly ready for the shock to the system that results from seeing your newly empty living quarters. That said, I have never felt freer than when I lived out of my luggage for 2 months waiting for my lift to arrive...should I be taking a hint from that? ;-) I’m right there with you Everett. I would just like to add one thing, if you’re starting from a place full of STUFF, like I did – start slow. It really helps. I love the idea of an outbox, that’s basically what I’ve had others do and it works amazingly well. Just don’t try to empty your entire life’s worth of STUFF in one fell swoop unless you’re truly ready for the shock to the system that results from seeing your newly empty living quarters.

That said, I have never felt freer than when I lived out of my luggage for 2 months waiting for my lift to arrive…should I be taking a hint from that?

;-)

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