With apologies to Paul Simon for butchering his song… maybe he is a minimalist.
"The problem is all inside your head," I say to you
The answer is easy if you take it logically"
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be 50 ways to leave your stuff
I say, "It's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued"
But I'll repeat myself at the risk of being crude
There must be 50 ways to leave your stuff
50 ways to leave your stuff
You just slip it out the back, Jack
Make a donation plan, Stan
You don't need that toy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Put it on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop it off at the 1st second hand store you see, LeeAnd get yourself free
Consumer nations generally have a bad relationship with stuff - we carry lots of baggage. It is mostly easier to acquire than to get rid of.
But, like Paul Simon’s 1975 song 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, there are also many ways to leave your bad relationship with unwanted stuff behind you.
Inspired by Simon’s song, I brainstormed some lyrics around getting rid of unwanted baggage, and setting ourselves free. Some are serious, others not so much.
1. Put it at the curb, Herb.
2. Throw it away, Ray.
3. Sell it in a pawn shop, Pop.
4. Put it on a rocket to space, Grace.
5. Regift that unwanted present, Kent.
6. Throw a yard sale, Gail.
7. Take it to the dump, Gump.
8. Bury it in the yard, Marg.
9. Do a declutter, Sutter.
10. Donate to Goodwill, Bill.
There are many more that come to mind, but you get the idea.
I was going to suggest ‘'Put it in pile to burn, Vern'', but that is probably not the best alternative, as satisfying as it may be.
I hope this helps you in your personal struggle to be free of the tyranny of unwanted, unloved, and unnecessary stuff.
Or at least helps you to have a laugh at it all, and gain a new, fresh perspective.
What are the ways you leave your stuff?
Stuff, not lovers. Paul Simon already covered that one.
I’ve been decluttering my Dads hoard since he passed away last year. Most of it has gone into the garbage. It’s unreal how much stuff he accumulated over the years. I doubt he threw anything away.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your Dad, and the hoard. I suppose most of us have one by the end of our lives. Hoping I can fit all my possessions in a shoe box by the time I go. Good luck with your project.
Delete- Gregg
Thank you. I’m with you on the shoe box.
DeleteThat reminds me of - ‘’Get rid of the hoard, Gord’’.
Delete- Gregg
I still have a load of things that clutter my space to sell on line. Unfortunately I'm lazy to get it done. Stuff that will sell at the recycle shop at kilo price is easy. But then I haul that in for that. Busy with that I lack time to focus on the old that still has to go. But working on. I'll get there some day.
ReplyDeleteIt is a work in progress that takes a lifetime to settle. Some of us never quite get the hang of it, but it is a worthy pursuit, in my humble opinion. Recognizing the challenge is the first step toward dealing with it. Good luck with your project. You can do it.
Delete- Gregg