Comments on: Could you live with just 100 things?

By: For Bloggers: How to Calculate Your Reader Awesomeness Factor

For Bloggers: How to Calculate Your Reader Awesomeness Factor — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:47:48 +0000

[...] people have told us of de-cluttering closets, garages, and storerooms and how this simple act lifted a weight from their shoulders or [...]

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:37:18 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by SALVISS: RT @betsytalbot: Could you live with just 100 things? A story about @obsrvationlist’s latest project http://ow.ly/1mZIBD...

By: Dan Kern

Dan Kern — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:25:15 +0000

Betsy, thank you for this lovely little bit of attention. And thank you for, in so many ways, clearing this trail for us. We never know how our actions may inspire another.

@Judy -It sounds to me like you have some nice balance in your life. Also, and more importantly, you’re conscious of the things in your life. Getting to that constant conscious (sounds like a tea) state is ultimately what this is about for me.

@Amber -Damn, that’s sexy-talk. Have you seen “Up In The Air”?

@Compact UK -Thank you.

@Anil -Solidarity, bro.

@Angela -Thank you.

@Cornelius Aesop -Yeah,the college thing is a great regulator. And I don’t see anything wrong with owning ‘stuff’, just the unending, unconscious acquisition of it. Some stuff can be awesome.

@Shannon -It’s funny… I’ve thought numerous times about getting rid of everything, but then I’d still be wearing clothes and so that’s something (begin endless loop) (I hope all your moving logistics are effortless.)

By: Betsy

Betsy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:21:15 +0000

Hi, Judy. I’m not sure 100 things is right for everyone, though I’m betting we all have more stuff than we actually need.

I just had a conversation about leaving things behind for family to go through with 2 women who had this experience with their parents. One went through it all while her dad was still alive and made sure to gift things to the people he cared about while they could still thank him in person for it and bond over shared memories. The other had to go through it all after her mom died and said it was an overwhelming experience.

It would be a wonderful gift to have that conversation with your kids now so they won’t have the burden of trying to figure out what was meaningful to you and needs to be cherished and what can be sold/donated. We should all do that with the people we love so when the time comes they have no guilt about it.

By: Judy

Judy — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:16:52 +0000

Hi Betsy
Failed miserably with my 100 things, as I just counted the bits and bobs in my living area, already up to 101 not including the furniture! Sounds awfully cluttered, but IMHO looks lovely! And I’m like one of the above commenters, have had a long time to acquire my stuff (which I love!). We have recently moved to a new home and most of my stuff was in storage so it was great fun opening up all the boxes. In my position (not planning on going anywhere for a looooong time) I don’t see the need to whittle down my stuff, but I do need to have the conversation with my kids about whether or not it will bother them to get rid of it after I’m gone, I don’t want to leave a burden for them to deal with. I’m sure I’ll get rid of some things that realistically I don’t use but still have an attachment for at the moment. But then again, when I’m gone what does it matter if they just get a skip in and get rid of the lot?? I won’t be here to see it
Cheers
Judy

By: Betsy

Betsy — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:49:34 +0000

Amber, you and Dan just might be perfect for each other. (I’ve been warned about this matchmaking thing, but it is so hard to turn off!)

Seriously, you and I have talked about this several times. There is a lot to be said for being able to carry your life with you at the drop of a hat. I commented earlier today at http://www.freepursuits.com about the cons of longterm travel – he mentioned the chore of managing the stuff back home, and my point is that if there is nothing back home, then there is no con.

By: Amber Singleton Riviere

Amber Singleton Riviere — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:57:57 +0000

Weird timing. I was just talking last night about how much I loved certain aspects of my life when I was a flight attendant, and one of the things I loved the most was that everything I needed (physical possessions, I mean) fit into two carry-on bags (a 22-inch rolling bag and my flight bag, which was like a very small overnight bag). I had two uniforms, a set of “street clothes,” and a pair of pjs. That was it for a wardrobe. I didn’t need anything else. I’d simply replace pieces in that wardrobe as necessary. I didn’t buy anything (because when would I use it?). I didn’t need a house or a car even, and the only bill I had for a material possession was my cell phone bill. It was so liberating! It’s really one of the things I miss most about that time in my life – not having, needing, or even wanting stuff.

Can you live with just 100 things? Yes, but I’ll warn you. When you start paring down, you won’t want to stop! You’ll feel so light and unencumbered. Dan is absolutely right. I really believe I lived more when I had less!

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:30:19 +0000

You know, it would be an interesting experiment to see who does more (and considers themselves happier) – those with many or those with few possessions. It’s all subjective, I guess, and as long as you feel okay about what you have and it doesn’t keep you from doing what you want you are probably in balance.

By: Compact UK

Compact UK — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:15:04 +0000

Thank you for this article, it was really thought provoking. It’s made me realise how much STUFF we have – too much!!

By: Anil

Anil — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:22:33 +0000

I doubt I’ve got anywhere near 100 things to my name and I keep trying to chop that down all the time too.