Too many of us are buried underneath a pile of belongings we neither need nor use. Yet we find ourselves overwhelmed by the process of ridding ourselves of this useless clutter. So, we store it. Whether in our attic, our garages, or at a storage facility, we put our stuff away until it has aged beyond its usefulness, and then we trash it. As the economy struggles, many people are beginning to realize that by selling or by donating their unused items, they can bring in extra cash. Furthermore, there are people around the world, not as fortunate as we, who would cherish the belongings we trip over.
Examine yourself. Are you really going to use that thing which is currently collecting dust, or are you withholding it from someone else? For instance, many of us store bicycles in our garages with good intentions of riding them, yet we haven't touched them in years. A bicycle for many people in the world means a changed life because it opens the door to increased mobility, and increased opportunity. Try making a promise to yourself that if you don’t use it in the next month (like you’ve been intending to for the last three years) you will donate it.
How much stuff do we really need? Do you own your stuff (you use it to its fullest potential, you appreciate it, and it adds value to your life)? Or does your stuff own you (you feel obligated to keep it, you don't know what else to do with it, and you are emotionally attached to something you neither use nor appreciate). When you decide to donate to somebody who will cherish and appreciate the belonging that has been gathering dust in your garage, you unlock that item’s potential to bring joy. We store things for ourselves, just in case, and miss the opportunity to store up timeless treasure by sharing what we have with those who have nothing.
Let's collaborate to help each other distribute items to where they are needed and appreciated. When we do this, our garages become garages again. Our storage rooms become extra space for items we use and appreciate, as opposed to a collection room for items going to the dump next year.
