Stuff based stages

Stuff, I aint talking of that puffing stuff.

But material possessions, that we hoard and boast of and even sonetimes in relationship with. Have heard a person saying that “I love my car” and hoped the car had similar feelings. Love as I know it when unrequited isn’t enjoyable other than in SRK movies.

I can clearly demarcate my journey as 3 stages

Wanting stuff

Accumulating stuff

Getting rid of stuff

When in teens is when want becomes prominent as I know it. It could start with wanting a pencil to a cycle to watch, as a 80s kid. Of course, the wants now could be digital products to desinger wears for the same age. These wants are mostly governed by what you see with others and coming under peer pressure. At least my time, there weren’t social media to influence, so our field of influence could be school friends or cousins. Was quite aware of growing up conditions at home, was wanting not to pressurise parents, so the wants remained “wants” and needs were met, is what I remember from that era.

Then the accumulation era dawns, college or job gives thar exposure to newer improved environment and also lesser parental control. Although most of the decisions in the early years are hugely influenced by values imbibed from home, the accumulation starts. I remember travelling from Mumbai to bangalore just after 11 months of so-called independence with eleven bags. I had left home with just 3, a few months back.

Some things get accumulated at home with an intention to use under certain conditions like when it snows or when that extra fat around waist is reduced, never comes out of dark corners, alas.

Then we reach a phase of decluttering. Its confusing phase as I perceive it, when it starts your love bond with some of those stuff isn’t lost, so you still hold on to them for “ personal reasons “. You are that person who needs to be talked to and made understood that the red hot pants that you brought in your early twenties wouldn’t go up the calves even. A honest conversation should help see some sense. May be… some day should try that.

Then not so confusing stage comes when you spring clean all of it. At the end of it most of the matching blouses are missing, and you are just left with plain blacks. But noone stops us from going back to accumulation. We are allowed such indulgences. Phases overlap.

Hopefully there would be a day when all corners are decluttered, and a feeling of enough is prevailing. Too much zen is it ? Or this want loop would be on.