What’s in the box?

In a dark corner of the basement sat a box full of unknown treasures.  The box has since moved with us 3 different times, without even a peek inside.  The box must have something very important inside because it’s stayed with us for so long.  I am so afraid to throw it out, what if I need what’s inside?  What if its important? What if it is a family treasure?

How to assess the box.

• The contents can’t be important if you haven’t missed them in 9 years.
• If it is a family treasure, you aren’t treating it with respect, leaving it unprotected in a damp basement or a non climate controlled garage.
• Think about how much it’s costing you to store it, manage it, and move it.

The truth is, most of the stuff we store is worthless.  The box in a sense owns me, instead of me owning the box.  I also have absolutely no respect for what’s in the box.  If it truly had value in my life, I would know exactly what was in it.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.

Joshua Becker

Do you want to know what was in the box?

I did too!  I went to the garage and opened the box as if it were worth a million dollars.  20 years of neglect was showing on its edges and packing tape.  I slowly opened it and was actually excited to see what was inside.  Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed!  The box was filled with old checks I’d written in the 90’s.  Remember when they used to return your checks after they were cashed?  🙂  I’ve wasted so much time, energy, and money taking care of that box.

To the visitor in my home, you would never even look twice at that box I’ve stored for years.  But the stress it’s given me was an emotional burden, as I would never let you enter through our garage because it was crammed full of boxes that have followed us on every move.

All of the clutter has weighed me down and added stress to my life.  This is why I have researched the minimalist lifestyle and have been on a journey for a few months now.  The weight that is lifted by de-cluttering my life is amazing.  It isn’t easy and it is a journey for sure.  How many old treasure boxes are in your basement or garage?  I encourage you to go through the boxes in your life, not just physical boxes but emotional ones too.  Purge your boxes and lighten your life load.