Happiness and Possessions

Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.            ~ Nathan W. Morris

Originally published June, 2018

So as I get ready to embark on my upcoming adventure I first have to disconnect from my current life. This means quitting my job, selling my house and packing up all of my possessions. I’ve done this before and it always hits me how much we identify with what we own. A great quote from Fight Club is that, “the things you own, end up owning you.” It seems like a natural thing that as we grow up, get older and start to own more things that these things start to get a piece of us.

You see our possessions have needs, they need space, they need companions, what’s a table without chairs? They demand our attention, you see that roaster you never use and it bugs you until you pull it out of the closet and use it. After all, you spent a lot of money on it, you really should use it right?

I have been thinking about this a lot over this weekend as I have been lifting and toting all that I own to a storage space. Basically all of my possessions will fit into a 10 x 15 foot storage space so I’m a bit of minimalist to start with. However as I’ve been stacking I’ve been taking careful note of where things are, in case I need to get to them. This is ridiculous, I’ll be thousands of miles away with no access. I’ve also agonized briefly over silly things like which t-shirts to take or leave behind, ridiculous right? A t-shirt is a t-shirt.
Part of what I’m excited about is leaving my things and this attitude behind, I won’t have my things, so I’ll adapt and get used to living without them. Even more so as I start my Appalachian Trail hike at the end of February I’ll have about 20 to 25 pounds of gear plus food and water. This will force a new level of minimalism and lack of materialism into my life and I really think I will be happier for it.

I have some reason for this belief as there is some good information out there on how reducing your possessions and a minimalist attitude in general can make you happier, here are few pieces, give them a read and have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

A simple parable about minimalism and happiness.

Why minimalism brings happiness

Less is more brings happiness

Minimalism and happiness a scientific view