One of the things we’re told about maintaining (or losing) weight to keep our physical health in good shape is that it’s not just about what we eat, but also about portion size.
Exhibit A: It’s summer, and who doesn’t like ice cream in the summer? But how much do we really need to keep us happy … or healthy? Here are three bowls in my home. I know there are plenty of people who would fill up that yellow bowl in a heartbeat, and even the blue one is a decent portion, but I’ve found that that little green and white, handmade pottery bowl with a shape that can never really be filled suits me just fine.
Exhibit B: Just enough to feel I’ve really enjoyed some ice cream, but not so much that I am berating myself afterwards that I probably put on another pound.
While I was sitting with my journal and coffee this morning, I looked around my living room and wondered, “How much do I really need?” If I had to pack up tomorrow and live in half the space I currently have, what would I keep? What would I – could I – let go? It was a funny thought, because every now and then we become aware of how much “stuff” we have.
Some of the stuff, we undoubtedly need – something to sleep on, some kitchen essentials, something to keep our clothes in, some books (of course), and in my case, the tools of my trade – my computer, peripherals, art supplies, etc. But where does one draw the line?
Sometimes I think I could easily get rid of half of what I own tomorrow if it were easy enough to do so, and honestly, I’d not think twice about it afterwards. As we move on in life, we accumulate stuff. But as we grow, we also outgrow much of it. Yet here it stays. Like people who have these huge two car garages, then fill them to the brim with stuff, and park their cars in the driveway. It’s incredibly common, but I cannot understand it. I don’t want to have that much stuff. And yet, in my own way, I suppose I do. Still, I’m grateful that I have no attic, no garage, and a thimble of storage space in the basement – it keeps me in check. And then there are the people who identify with their stuff. Who they are, in their eyes, seems to depend on the luxury car, the McMansion, the trips, the designer clothing …
But we are never really our stuff. And getting rid of what we once thought was indispensable and who we were? it creates space for who we are now. Who we might be. Maybe it’s a thought as I grow older; maybe a thought as I want to keep finding out who I am. But portion control is starting to sound more and more appealing, because the less we need, the more space we have to spread our wings.
Yes lovely. “and getting rid of what we once thought was indispensable and who we were? it creates space for who we are now.” Beautiful. ❤
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Thank you. I’m edging into another transition (Well, we’re always in transition, but one where I need to go …)
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You go lovely. xx
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Merci!! And you, too. 🙂
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Jeanne, I’m so glad I stopped by 🙂 I hope you’re well! Missed seeing you at our (expensive) conference this year! Anyway, I LOVE this post and how you describe necessities. It’s SO true, and this comes from someone who lives in a household overloaded with ALL kinds of “stuff” *sigh* I live with my parents so we have the accumulation of 3 adults here, and we’re creative “doer” people so that increases the accumulation exponentially. We’ve only had a couple of short spurts of purging, but have SO much more to do. I need life to give me a break so I can have another big spurt! My biggest problem is the “just in case I need this” because there have been too many times I DO need something I’ve had hanging around for years and those moments when I finally throw something away and end up needing it *sigh* Aaaaaagh! I hope you’re well and is that your work space?! I LOVE it!
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Hey Donna, I’m so glad you stopped by, too! I’ve been working all day, and am on 2 deadlines, so at this juncture in time, stay very focused, but am finally here!
I do the same as you when I go around the house, about the not getting rid of stuff “just in case”. It’s especially true when it comes to art supplies of all kinds from very expensive foam core, to paints which have probably dried up if I really looked, and so on. Right now, I’m trying to get rid of one unneeded thing (ideally more) from each floor each time the garbage goes out. At the least, it has me evaluating and looking at everything. Yes, that is my upstairs art space where I draw and paint. (See all those children’s books? 🙂 ) Getting it into graphic form for whatever I need it for happens in my graphics workspace, where I also draw.
I missed going to the conference in some ways, but this was not the year to invest that kind of money when my head wasn’t really there – many challenges the last so many months, and I feared it would have been money down the drain. Haven’t given up, though, and plan to be there next year, and hopefully, at whatever event they plan for November in Princeton. Was it good? How did you make out?
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smart decision…it’s much more expensive and generally for a lot less than what we had years ago It’s still good and, of course, being at any kidlit event is wonderful just because it’s all passionate kidlit people and content 🙂 I accomplished things I needed to so, in that respect, I feel it was successful personally. What comes from it only time will tell—and we know how much time is spent waiting!
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Yes …. LOTS of time waiting!! 🙂 And I think, as you say, the benefit is always being surrounded by just one thing – kid lit – and all the people who love it. I know our chapter is trying to keep expenses down, but everything keeps costing SCBWI more, and their hands are really tied in trying to not pass it along to us. And they absorb quite a bit.
There’s always so much I want to do for kids’ books – writing, drawing, etc. Trying harder, in between work, to submit more, too. It’s a challenge, to be sure. Did you get a one-on-one?
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I did 🙂 They were interesting and I thought about the commentary. I ended up not agreeing with most. It happens, but I always learn a lot when I get opinions to feel out different perspectives/perceptions. I submitted to a good chunk of faculty (8 editors, 1 agent) and am now spending a good week (so far) researching agents. It’s been years since I’ve queried this way. We’ll see what comes of all of it, if anything!
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I have always found the one-on-ones enormously helpful, even if I don’t always agree with what they say. Rarely have I met with an agent or editor who didn’t offer some new perspective or insight into where I could take my story or could make improvements. Also, I have found that the better I have made my writing, the better my critiques, no? At least now having been to the conference, you now have a boatload of editors and agents you can send to. Yes, researching more agents, too.
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yep, the one thing I always have to remind myself when thinking of the expense is that it opens up submissions to editors who are otherwise closed to unsolicited 🙂 Lots of work which I would much prefer spending that time actually creating instead of researching editors and agents. I’m pretty sick of it and have come close to throwing in the towel several times over the past few years. If it wasn’t a passion, I may have!
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I agree. Imagine all that on top of working full-time!* Every day, I am paid for using my energy in designing/creating/writing others’ projects; although it pays the bills, and I, thankfully, really like what I do, the amount of creative energy left over for children’s books at the end of the day ain’t much. And I, too, have thought of throwing in the towel – I think many of us have – and yet, we forge on because it’s something we love. There are successes all around us; they can be ours, too. I really do believe that. *And not 25 anymore either! 🙂
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I’m with you. I know I have accumulated too much stuff. Sometimes I look around and I’m overwhelmed. But, my problem is my “too much stuff” is books. I have way more than I will ever read, and yet I keep buying—often used. I’m not a tchotchkes collector, clothes shopper, or shoe fanatic. No fancy gadgets or tech toys. Books, lots of books. And papery things. I struggle with this. They say it’s not hoarding if it’s books, but I’m not so sure about that. I know I need a deep cleaning of my library. I mean, do I need over 300 cookbooks? Gah! You’ve inspired me to take a look and see what I can donate. I took about 30 books last to our cat refuge/adoption center’s thrift store last month. I think I can find more. Love your nice clutter-free work space! Now, that’s inspiring!
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Yes- books and papery things, and lots of things related to art and crafty things (and some candle stuff. 🙂 ). But wow – 300 cookbooks? That makes me look like I have nothing! Hey – thanks for that! LOL. I don’t know about by you – you could inquire – but here you can also tie them up and put your unwanted books out for recycling. I’m mentally collecting. Tx on the workspace. Unfortunately, I can’t leave stuff out overnight on my desk when I’m working, because the small fry have always been keenly interested, and I’m not able to shut them out.
Here’s something that might help you – last time I moved, I decided to clear out one shelf’s worth of books from every bookcase and do whatever with them. That was quite a help!
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Your post inspired me. I found five books to donate as soon as I read it. Baby steps… Ha!
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Hey – glad I could help! The other day I was looking in one bookcase for a particular book, and I saw a few that I will remove and dispose of. You’re right – baby steps. I even threw away 2 different pairs of candle thingies that I haven’t used once since I’ve lived here – that’s a good criteria, too. Have I used/looked at/read this since I’ve lived here? Not everything will go on that criteria, but a lot also will. Good luck! 🙂
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Thanks:)
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I am also paring down, but keeping in my my packrat tendencies and need to restore and reuse old things.
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It’s important to keep what we love, and to restore and re-use when possible, but when I look around? Still so much that could go! Little by little …
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“But we are never really our stuff. And getting rid of what we once thought was indispensable and who we were? it creates space for who we are now. Who we might be.”
This is true in both the literal and figurative sense. Hard to do, but worth trying!
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I have started “divesting” a bit at a nice, easy pace, and I’m actually surprised at how much lighter I feel. And as a result, I am moving things around in the house – not a lot – and find myself thinking creatively about my living space, something I haven’t done in a while. I’m liking this!
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