Simplification

Every year around this time it seems like I go through a period of feeling like I want to weed out some of my belongings that I don't ever use and try to simplify my life.

I don't like the feeling of clutter so I wander around the apartment and look for things that I don't use, don't need and wouldn't ever use again. I generally make a pile of stuff to go to charity, stuff to give away to friends or family and stuff to sell.

I'm putting a little dent in the stuff I've managed to accumulate over the years. I sold off my netbook that I used for one week when I was on vacation over the summer and a couple miscellaneous computer parts. I'm working on getting rid of an old cell phone, more older computer parts, possibly my old PowerMac G4, one of my guitars and an amplifier, miscellaneous guitar stuff, etc. I have some clothes and household type stuff to give to charity.

Over the past few years I've realized just how much stuff I have that I don't use or don't need but wanted really badly at one point in time. My guitars are a prime example of this. At one point I had 3 guitars, 2 amplifiers and tons of other miscellaneous guitar related stuff. I messed around on the guitar a little bit but never took lessons or teaching myself how to really play all that seriously and I haven't picked up any of my guitars in probably at least 3 years.

I think part of the reason I go through this is the realization of just how much Christmas is focused on buying stuff and another reason is that when the weather is cold and gloomy I tend to stay in my apartment more and seeing stuff around that is little more than a waste of space and money is kind of depressing.

I'm going to work more on trying to decide whether I'm really going to use something enough to make it worthwhile to purchase more in the future...