Shedding

Our culture is really big on accumulating. In almost every arena, acquiring more seems to be the stated point of the game. More money, more status, more degrees, more possessions, more likes, more clicks. In my life, I’ve bought into that just as much as most people. Over time, I accumulated a big house full of stuff, and I was always on the lookout for more. 

Lately, though, a little voice in my head has been saying: “What do you need all that for?” The idea of getting rid of my stuff feels less and less like loss, and more and more like freedom.

In Hindu tradition, there are four stages, or Ashramas, in a life. The first is focused on accumulation of material wealth and experiences. The second is about accumulation of relationships--family and community. The third is about accumulation of knowledge and leadership. But the fourth and final stage is about renouncing material things. It’s about shedding all those years of accumulation in order to forge a simpler, more direct, more spiritual relationship with the universe.

Maybe it’s time to Marie Kando my life. If I can give up some of the stuff that’s less meaningful to me, maybe my life will be more filled with meaning. Might be worth a try.