Although recent headlines say consumer spending in the United States is rebounding after the recession, I spent part of the holiday season doing the opposite of shopping. I cleaned my entire apartment and collected six boxes of items to donate to nonprofits or give to friends.
Unwanted household items can become less noticeable over time. Like extra e-mail, unnecessary material things lose their value. A few years ago, people were curious if they saw five new e-mails had arrived. Now, that’s barely worth noticing.
There’s some evidence that cleaning one’s environment can change one’s behavior. In The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Malcolm Gladwell attributed the drop in subway crime in New York City to a reduction in graffiti. His theory was that people respected the subway once it was clean, so crime decreased. Some readers question that cause-and-effect relationship. Either way, I think it’s likely that selecting possessions one values – and giving away the ones one doesn’t – could improve how one takes care of one’s space.
Most of the material things I discovered this week were interesting and useful. One of them was a new DVD of March of the Penguins; I plan to watch that soon. Other things, like the bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, are potential gifts for friends.
After simplifying my living space, I’m approaching the new year with a resolution to focus on what matters, appreciate what I decide to keep, and know what to pass on to the next person.
Kat Friedrich 