The Minimalists posted an essay on their blog entitled “Prepared to Walk Away.” I have been reading their work for a few years, but for some reason, this piece struck a cord. I started thinking and asking myself the same question. Could I walk away from everything in my life? Well, no, I can’t. Could you?
I could probably walk away from all my material possessions. I’m not saying it would be easy but I could do it. And I don’t think would cause me any long-term trauma. Although I let go of much of what I used to own over the last few years, I still have attachments to stuff. I created a comfortable living space which I decorated exactly the way I want. Even though the furniture, artwork and area rugs are just stuff, I would be sad to walk away from everything
In the essay, Joshua writes, “Being able to walk away means I won’t ever get too attached to my belongings and being unattached to stuff makes our lives tremendously flexible-filled with opportunity”. Well, when he puts it that way, it gives me permission to let go of my stuff. Then I can imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t assign so much importance to the space I live in and the things in it. In my work with clients, I give them permission to let go of the stuff holding them back. So, if my stuff is holding me back, perhaps I do need to walk away from everything.
Joshua also writes about habits in this same context. Can you walk away from old habits and adopt new ones that will help you move forward in your life? Habit change is absolutely something I work on with clients almost every day. The habit of throwing things on the floor or filling horizontal surfaces full of stuff doesn’t serve anyone in a positive way. I suppose the question is, would the effort required to change that habit be worth it?
I have been working with a couple of clients over the last few weeks who are selling their homes. As we tackle a house filled with a lifetime of stuff, we question the importance of it. Then, decide whether it’s worth packing and taking to a new home. In a sense we are learning to walk away from (almost) everything. The clients will be walking away from the home they may have lived in for many years. They will be leaving behind a home full of memories. I hope that they will also let go of a lifetime of stuff so they can walk away into a new home, and a new life.
Life is certainly a journey, and so is our relationship with stuff. So, could you walk away from everything?