Home › Forums › Health and Fitness › Lightening the load
This topic contains 11 replies, has 11 voices, and was last updated by TheWalker 4 years, 1 month ago.
- AuthorPosts
A couple of years ago I was really down. I hurt my back and got pretty depressed, I guess. I thought I might have to move out of the hills, and started looking at all the s~~~ I had collected over the years. Stuff I had forgotten about. Old projects I never finished. Old books by the ton. All manner of crap. I felt a bit panicked at the thought of moving it all and finding a place for it.
Trapped, and alone.
Anyway, I decided just to lose some of it. Then some more. I went through every old box and junk drawer, every closet. Emptied the attic. Everything I owned came under review. I gave away extra furniture, sports equipment I don’t use, old clothes. If it was ugly, worn out, of poor quality, or just unlikely to be used, I chucked it. All my old computers and anything on a floppy disk. Redundant dishes, ill-fitting clothes, hundreds of books, parts for cars I had, obsolete computer manuals, broken stereo equipment. A world of junk and I wasn’t even a hoarder keeping trash. It was just a lifetime of things.. I used to keep some stuff if I thought I might use it someday. My new rule was, if I might NOT use it, it goes. I can get another one if need be. Do I really want to spend my time dicking around with old computers? No, out they go.
It started out as a difficult task, and it was shocking how emotional it was, and how crazy it seemed to care about this… stuff. I got mad, and sad, and really felt the years that have gone by.
Then it got good. Every box of stuff or bag of “things” that I donated or threw away was like a rock taken off my shoulders. I got lighter and lighter as my pile got smaller. I went back through the remaining pile again. This time the criteria got tougher. If it doesn’t IMPRESS me, it goes. It was amazing.
In the end, everything I own is for my life going forward, and very little remains to salute the past.
The effect on my mood has been remarkable.
I dusted out the corners of my mind as well, and unloaded a bunch of baggage. Childish expectations, procrastination, lingering doubts and guilt, a lifetime of disappointments and insecurities needed to go along with all the physical junk. Things put on hold in anticipation of one day “settling down” and finding a “soul mate” to complete my life. I had to accept the fact that there is no someone and someday, and that I did not do that. I also had to accept the honest truth that I don’t ever want to. My life going forward is mine, and none of it belongs to, or will be put on hold for, a relationship I don’t want with a woman I don’t know. My life is complete, but it is not done.
I got off my ass and fixed up my house the way I want it. My house makes me happy now. Not a sign of a “woman’s touch”, and that’s fine. The s~~~’s mine.
I replaced the transmission in my “baby” sports car. Now I drive it through the mountains rather than looking at it sadly and feeling helpless. No need to feel down when you live in the mountains and have an old sports car. Trust me on this.
I quit smoking cigarettes. Cold turkey and a pack in my pocket, no tapering off or gum or pills. I just f~~~ing quit. Almost 2 years now. I have gained 20 Lbs. (I really needed it!), I feel younger and stronger than I have in years. I really think I saved my own life.
For the rest of my life now I will travel light. Things that are broken, worn out, or poor quality will not accompany me on my path. I will be nimble rather than sedentary. Never trapped again. If I feel like taking pleasure in the company of some of the many “wall” flowers out there, I will without guilt or attachment. If I don’t, That’s fine too. No more baggage."I am is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that I do is the longest sentence?" - George Carlin
Your story is inspiring. I can barely walk through my bedroom at the moment. I’d love to clear the clutter. I shouldn’t feel emotionally attached to stuff but I do.
Very good to hear, brother. I haven’t reached that point in my life, mostly because I haven’t lived that long, but you’re a great example to follow, and just starting out it serves as a good way to live.
Feminism is a movement where opinions are presented as facts and emotions are presented as evidence.
great post ! glad you took control of your life , our belongings shouldn’t own us ! ..minimal “stuff “with optimal money in the back pocket !
Great story brother. Happy you are doing well.
Anonymous18Inspiring and positive journey brother. I think hoarding is just one of those things, that people who don’t can’t quite understand. And as you said vast majority of people may just have a collection of stuff overtime with some vague sentimental value/attachment and not be considered hoarding.
I got mad, and sad, and really felt the years that have gone by.
I collect parking/meal receipts/movie tickets/ of all the places I have been with. Rather useless thing and more than a few women ‘in my life’ pointed it out in the past … but well… I keep them. And going through them at times always lets me reminisce about the places/times in the past. Nostalgic. Perhaps that’s why I save them.
Congrats on quitting the cancer sticks my man. You win!
To those who have made a study of Taoism and the life of Lao-tzu, this journey you went though is known as a Taoist Purge. It is perhaps one of the most liberating experiences that any person can go through. It also is usually one of the first steps to following a Taoist path. It was having gone through smaller versions of what you experienced that actually got me interested in those documentaries about horders(Please take take it that I am calling you one). To this day I am always facinated in how people can become emotionally bonded to items as if they are people.
Good on you though mate, nothing quite like a Purge to loosen up the synapses.
Nirvanna is never having to worry about a woman ever again.
I replaced the transmission in my “baby” sports car. Now I drive it through the mountains rather than looking at it sadly and feeling helpless. No need to feel down when you live in the mountains and have an old sports car. Trust me on this.
I do trust you. I have an old convertible sports car my self. I love long weekend drives through the country.
I am glad to read about and know when a man has taken life in his own hands and made himself happy.
Keep driving forward.
"I asked you a question. I didn't ask you to repeat what the voices in you head are telling you" ~ Me. ........Yes I'm still angry.
The less we have, the more we can attend to and appreciate those things. The less we do, the more focus we can apply to what we do.
this journey you went though is known as a Taoist Purge.
I did not know that. The Tao Te Ching actually had quite an influence on my young life. We all got introduced to it watching Kung Fu on TV, but I got a copy of the Tao Te Ching as a young man and about wore it out. I wouldn’t call myself a Taoist (or any other kind of “ist”) but there are some great lessons there, and my current journey probably feels that influence. I hadn’t really thought about that. Cool,
"I am is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that I do is the longest sentence?" - George Carlin
Anyway, I decided just to lose some of it. Then some more.
This worked for me too, and it still does.
To those who have made a study of Taoism and the life of Lao-tzu, this journey you went though is known as a Taoist Purge.
I never knew there was a name for it. I just enjoy the feeling of lightness and relief when I release old possessions into the wild.
Society asks MGTOWs: Why are you not making more tax-slaves?
This summer I walked for two months with just 8kg on my back. Made me realise just how little we really need. It can be very liberating.
- AuthorPosts
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

921526
921524
919244
916783
915526
915524
915354
915129
914037
909862
908811
908810
908500
908465
908464
908300
907963
907895
907477
902002
901301
901106
901105
901104
901024
901017
900393
900392
900391
900390
899038
898980
896844
896798
896797
895983
895850
895848
893740
893036
891671
891670
891336
891017
890865
889894
889741
889058
888157
887960
887768
886321
886306
885519
884948
883951
881340
881339
880491
878671
878351
877678