Chapter 2: Lamps, Teacups, and Making Space
I found myself standing in the middle of a storage unit, helping a friend sort through what seemed like a lifetime’s worth of boxes. There were old lamps, chipped teacups, and a random assortment of items that had been stored away and forgotten. It felt like opening a time capsule of things she once thought were too important to let go.
As we sifted through the dusty boxes, I couldn’t help but ask, What is all this stuff, really? Does it hold value, or is it just holding her back? We both realized that deciding what to keep and what to let go of wasn’t going to be easy. Each item had its own story, a reason for sticking around. But not everything needed to be saved forever.
It made us both think about how we attach meaning to things, believing they represent more than just their physical presence. But over time, all this “stuff” can start to weigh us down—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s surprising how something that once brought joy can now feel like a burden.
We talked about how it’s not about throwing everything away or being ruthless with our past. It’s about being more mindful of what we bring into our lives and what we choose to keep. It’s about making room for what truly matters, for the things that add value and joy, instead of clinging to things that no longer serve us.
As we worked through the boxes, I could see the shift happening. She started to realize that the real question isn’t just about what to keep, but how to choose what comes into her life in the first place. Before making any new purchases, she decided she would ask herself: Will this add value? Will I actually use it? And what will happen to it when I’m done?
Because it’s not just about the things we buy today—it’s about their impact tomorrow. All this stuff doesn’t just disappear when we’re done with it. It ends up somewhere—often in landfills, oceans, or back in storage units, waiting to be dealt with later. She wanted to break that cycle, to live more intentionally, choosing things that truly matter.
As we packed up the last few boxes to donate or recycle, we both made a pact. The next time we’re tempted to buy something new, we’ll remember this day in the storage unit, surrounded by things that seemed necessary once but were now just taking up space. We’ll ask ourselves those same questions again: Do I really need this? Will it bring value to my life?
Because living mindfully isn’t about having nothing—it’s about having more of what matters.