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Less is More

I love getting rid of stuff. We spent yesterday and today going through our rooms and getting rid of stuff we really don't need, use, or want. The kids are as jazzed about it as I am. In fact, we just returned from dropping off a mini-van full of stuff to the DI and dumpster. Our house still has much to purge, but we are making progress.

I told the kids, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to get rid of all these dishes?" Seriously, why do we need so many of everything. Does any one person really need more than one bowl, one plate, one spoon, one knife, one fork, and one cup? I believe when you have less, you care more. Meaning, if I only had one bowl, I'd treasure and take care of it. I'd make sure to clean it after each use and I'd put it away. I'd be careful not to break it. And the other cool thing about having less is that when you have less, you need less. For example, if we all only had one of every dishware, we'd not need a dishwasher. We would each just wash our dishes as we go. No dishwasher means no need for dishwasher detergent or rinse aid. Furthermore, one would ever argue over whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher! Imagine that? Less really is more!

During our purge process I decided that a solid defense is as important as an aggressive offense. If after our Herculean cleaning efforts we don't discipline ourselves by not buying or bringing home stuff we really don't want, need, or use, we'll be right back to bulging with STUFF. So all of us have committed to thinking twice before buying or bringing something else home. We all want less stuff because we all value more space. It's the empty spaces that make what we own that much more meaningful and valuable. I feel so free. I love this new way of being. Less is More.

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