Ditching the Deadweight

The first time I jet set was following a particularly difficult break-up. Is this running? I thought. Truth be known, and whatever you want to call it, it hasn’t stopped. Since I departed Canada in 1999, I have moved 15 times and lived in six different countries. I have owned nine different beds, countless blenders and kitchenware; I have a wardrobe of recycled clothing, and I wouldn't change a thing.

During my last move, Brasil-to-Mexico, I packed with two ideas in mind. One was a question; is it replaceable? And the other, a quote, “The best things in life aren’t things.” ~Art Buchwald.

This made packing up manageable; and to be honest, even a little fun. 

I took a snap shot of the trophies I had earned over the past five years, and took one last look at the Amazonian lamp I bought in Manaus; I took the artwork off the walls and removed the staples from the frames.  This will look good on Karina’s wall.

And that was it.  I left with a few bags, mailed a few boxes, and rolled away with my bike in tote.  Again.  I emptied out.  Literally. 

Attachment is tiring.  It’s exhausting.  Things, things, and more things. Instead of owning them, they start owning us. They own our space, our time and our eventually our freedom begins to shrink. We start to wake up needing. I need my coffee, I need my magazine, I need my blow dryer, I need my Iphone (and I need to check my Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail). 

And then we start to define who we are by what we have. I have 15 trophies. I am a great athlete. I have an Iphone5. I am tech-savvy. Look at this set of cookware. I am a good woman. And my favourite; look at my house (or car). I am better than you. We create this relationship with things as if they are living, breathing entities capable of making or breaking us; when really, they are always going to be, just things. 

I am not suggesting you give it all away. (But you can do that too). But detaching can be liberating. 

Getting rid of pictures allows us to make more of present moments and not live so often in the past.  Save the treasures; and ditch the ones that bring you down.

Sifting through your clothes lessens the burden of choice. Keep the ones you love, and let someone who needs them wear the ones you don’t.

Ditching that piece of furniture that doesn’t really have a purpose might give you room to roll out your yoga mat. No more excuses.

Handing over the stack of medals you earned at various events over the years will brighten any 6 year old’s day when they host their own mini-Olympics with the neighbourhood boys and girls.

Trading in your SUV for one that’s more economical will not only save you on gas money, but also the environment for the little ones on the horizon.

Skin/Body Products. If it says oxybutanoid3, methlypropeleneriboflaven, or any other name that has been invented to appear scientifically sound, ditch. Your whole body with thank you. 

You don’t have to travel third world to get a close up of someone sleeping on the street. A good night sleep is something we are all entitled to. Clear out some space in the linen closet and sleep easy knowing your sheets are appreciated out here more than they were bound up in the closet.

Your home. Sure you are comfortable in your space and you have lived there for 10 years.  Watching the world revolve around you is safe and secure, but leaving the comfort of the neighbourhood will propel you into a life less predictable. In the unknown world you will be forced to dance at the edge, and discover who you are. Again.

De-vice. If you say this with a thick Spanish accent, it says, “de vice”  (translated into “the vice”). This is no coincidence. Detach from your phone, your computer, your iPad, and remove the earpiece. Observe. See. Listen. Smell. Hear. Watch. And suddenly, you will become aware of a whole wide world out here. This is my challenge - disconnecting.

Detaching from objects is enormous practice. The practice of letting go stretches far beyond your imagination. After disconnecting from objects you will feel lighter and more nimble. You will be less bound. And after letting go of things, you can start letting go of other matters that engulf our brilliance.

Self-doubt, regret, comfort, guilt, self-pity, sadness, sorrow, our story, our excuses. 

You will have more room to breathe and more freedom. I promise. 

What will you let go of right now?

Less is more.

Namaste.