All in Things
"The stuff that matters in life is no longer stuff. It's other people. It's relationships. It's experience." - Brian Chesky
Like many, I love the notion of collaborative consumption, and the idea of sharing cars, homes, meals, clothes, experiences, knowledge, available capacity or services. There is a proliferation of examples, and new marketplaces, business and social models being invented at pace.
“I think that cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic cathedrals; I mean the supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists, and consumed in image if not in usage by a whole population which appropriates them as a purely magical object.”
Most objects surrounding us are in our homes, cupboards, drawers and this is where a lot of the "decluttering" happens. But there is one mythical object which is both functional and charged with symbolic value: the car.
"He who knows he has enough is rich" - Lao Tzu
I have started to reflect on the objects of my life. The things I own and have collected over the years. I am increasingly asking myself what I really value and want in my life. What are those "things" that matter? I like the simplicity of the Marie Kondo filter "does this bring me joy?". But for me, I like even better a "what if" approach. "What if", this "thing", piece of furniture, piece of clothing, piece of decoration, piece of kitchenware...etc. Was not in my life/home? Would I miss it? Would I buy it if I saw it today for the first time? Would I be truly happy if it was offered to me as a present?
“Live simply, so that others may simply live.” - Mahatma Gandhi
“Lighten” is about reducing the things I own, use and buy.
My first resolution is a simple decision: not buying any new piece of clothes, shoes, accessories, make up, jewelry for myself for at least the next 3 months. No sales shopping, no impulse buying walking past those shops I love in Marylebone high street or no browsing on the Internet those fabulous Robert Clergerie shoes and those Kenzo bargains on eBay (I am a big second hand shopper of selected designer apparels). I will also stop proactively buying things for my 2 teenagers unless it is something they need for school. But I will continue to buy presents for others, which I love doing!
