Excess:
Let’s talk about excess since it’s the holiday season.
As I mulled what I might write this week, the morning news shows were reporting on a woman in the UK with a tree that looked like this:
I don’t think anyone would disagree that, unless she is supplying Christmas presents to an entire orphanage, this is excessive. Years ago, the practice in our family and many others was that typically a kid got one ‘main’ present, a few things they needed (clothes and such), books or puzzles, and not much more.
I remember one particular Christmas—I think I was about 4 or 5—when there was only ONE THING I wanted: A Baby First Step doll. I treasured that doll, took her everywhere and arguably, gave her as good care as a real child. She was enough. The other doll I got that Christmas was unnecessary and, as such, was woefully neglected. So I ask, is it necessary to have so many baby dolls?
What is necessary?
Is it necessary?
How much is necessary?
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you have too much of some things. We all have too much food, too much stuff, too much work, too much imbibing, and yes, even too much exercise or too much chocolate. Dave Matthews even sings about too much in his song titled the same: I need more / I’m going over my borders / I’m going to take more, more / from you, letter by letter. / I eat too much / I drink too much / I want too much / Too much. Despite Dave’s singing, it does not paint a pretty picture.
Today in a session, I shared a mantra with a family: “Moderation in all things.” While this quote about moderation is traced to the early Greco-Roman philosophers, most people would agree the credo remains currently relevant. What struck me in the morning’s therapy is that whenever we clutter our lives with the unnecessary, we end up in a hole that requires a long climb out and considerable cleaning up. Our lives invariably become more messy.
Sometimes this is cleaning up our living space, climbing out of debt from unnecessary spending, or eliminating waste in our personal habits. A sign that we’re in a time of excess is evident in the bookstore which has numerous publications in the “how-to-simplify” genre or the sudden burst of interest in tiny houses. Many of us can admit that we have too much stuff and need to purge our surroundings.
Whenever we clutter our lives with the unnecessary, we end up in a hole that requires a long climb out and considerable cleaning up.
“Too much of a good thing” is actually a quote from Shakespeare’s As You Like It in a moment of flirtation between Rosalind and Orlando. So are there exceptions to moderation? I believe so: Love. In its truest form, can there be too much love? Or too much compassion? Too much care or kindness? Too much faith or devotion? Too much respect or reverence? Probably not. But I would consider these necessary vs. unnecessary. They are aspirations of the highest order. And in fact, maybe that’s what this season is all about.
Love, compassion, care, kindness, faith, devotion, respect, & reverence are necessary. They are aspirations of the highest order.
Tonight on the 11th hour of blog writing, I am going to eliminate unnecessary rambling thoughts and words. Please join me this season in Eliminating the Unnecessary because Life is Messy and Life is Marvelous.
This post deserves a guest spot on the Becoming Minimalist blog.