Nothing is Precious

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There is a fine line between using our stuff, abusing our stuff, and avoiding our stuff. We hide behind the idea that we do not want to abuse our stuff, and our answer is to tuck it away. 

Why do we hide things away and create rules, label things as precious and then never use them? Why do I have clothes I have owned for years that I have only worn a handful of times?

I can remember wearing a new cardigan to dinner. After a stubborn fight getting a shrimp out of its shell I was wearing oily, sticky scampi sauce all over my new cardigan. After multiple fruitless attempts, nothing could remove the oil stain. That day I lost my new cardigan and with it, the freedom to use and enjoy my things. 

What if you went into every room in your house and asked “What, in here is precious?” Think about which items are protected, saved, enjoyed infrequently used under special circumstances (guests, holidays, special occasions).

For me it is my expensive Blazer

My charcuterie cutting board

My nice white shirt 

My serving dishes

My travel keepsakes

My chunky jewelry

My eyebrow pencil

What if every item you owned had two numbers on it. The date you bought it, and the number of times you’ve used it. Would that help us to remember to use our things? Maybe that would help us to combat the made up rules we have. Such as “I will only wear that shirt on a day I won’t sweat, spill, spit or stain.” That day isn’t coming, wear the damn shirt.

What if we swapped out precious, for put to use? 

Instead of protecting that white shirt so it never gets stained, I wear it proudly and prepare myself for the inevitable day it gets a spill. In the meantime, it will be enjoyed, treasured, needed, used, lived in, and loved. I bought it 3 years ago, how many times have I worn it? Here’s to increasing that number! 

Nothing is precious, has become my battle cry!

When I pass over a shirt I pause. When I reach for the cardigan instead of the blazer, I pause. When I reach for the simple studs instead of the delicate dangly earrings, I pause. When I reach for the tea bag instead of the loose leaf, I pause. When I save the serving dishes for guests, I pause.

Nothing is precious! 

I would rather be looking my best covered in scampi sauce than stain free and stuck in fear. 

Light the candle, wear the blazer, put out the china and wear the damn clothes. Nothing is precious! 

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