Well, okay, maybe in my first attempt in being a minimalist, I've gone through a lot of anger and impatience. I thought people are stupid, parents are weak, our generation is even worse. And stuff.
Tired of a glass drawer stuffed with small, fragile souvenirs? Grandmother keeping her dusty, yellow, love letters from the past in the corner of your kitchen? Greatgrandparents not wanting to let go of those almost-mushroom-garden boxes filled with their old stuff? Forgot that you have your childhood pillow? Moms be afraid of you wearing hot pants out there? Well, it's not without reason.
But also during the proccess, I've learned that we become hoarders with something in the background. It must have been caused by...something.
This is just a short, practical summary of what I've learned about the habit of filling the house with definitely too much items. Not as detail as you may expect, but only in a small circle:
Our grandparents faced wars. Around 1930-1950s. These wars made their life troubling. No stability, aware of everything, sometimes they lost every little belongings they have, including people they loved, only in a second. It's all chaos.
After the war's over, it's normal to see they have became traumatic, fearful, yet, easily attached with whatever they have. Okay, it's sweet. Your grandma might be very attached to an antique plate, for example, because it's given by her husband (your grandpa!) and it's the only thing that was saved during the bombing or gunfight somewhere in their village. Or maybe there's a creepy-looking doll that was your greatgrandma's only gift for your baby mother during the chaos. All of the stuff hold a sentimental value for them, who has gone through hard, hard times.
You see, it's something that is formed. The base, before we go to the most materialistic era later.
1960-1970s. Honestly, I know nothing about this era, but I know some companies have invented...like...luxury soap, toothpaste, commercial cigarettes, and stuff. Magazines advertize a lot of products. They've started selling things in bigger range. And people looked more rich (in my point of view, don't trust me). Or maybe they're just havin' fun in postwar ease. There are still some troubles in politics etc., but generally, people were enjoying the peace. Anyway, many good music was born in this era. Okay I'm out of topic.
Because I don't know the core of hoarding coming from this era. But, our parents were born, or spending their teenage life. Depends on your parents' age. :)) I'm blabbering. Hahaha.
1980-1990s. ALRIGHT HERE IT IS. Industrial revolution and capitalism reaches the peak. I guess. Look at the era: colourful, full of amazing items, with colours and interesting commercials. Inventions in technology, afro hairs, and fun, fun all the way! I guess, the 80s were so shiny, and 90s are nostalgic yet materialistic. People started to take it seriously: what you possess is what you are.
Our parents were usually have finally make their own money in the era where junkfood is new and super duper funky, and everything seems finally...purchase-able. Department stores were growing, Barbie dolls everywhere. Everyone suggests them to buy new, sparkling stuff for their children. Don't forget restaurants. They're everywhere! With all the MSGs and overhauled sugar!
Ah yes, I was born in the 90s. Maybe you, too, in the 80s or 90s. Do you remember how lovely Polly Pocket was? Sorry, I still keep those toys, in a box. Hihi. But if you're sensitive enough to see, in the 80s and 90s, media commercials have been more, more agressive in suggesting us to buy things. Imported toys, local foods with palm oil and fat, fancy vehicles, trendy apparels, cute telephone. Anything. Remember also the glory of first cellular phone in 1999? ;)
2000s.
This is what a I call a time of accumulation. Your grandparents spent 3 eras started with sentimental values, pop-culture, and bold commercials. Your parents learned to be sentimental with stuff, being young in pop-culture, and started to be able to buy things in the era where things are easier to have.
And now, it's us. With all of that mixed again. We wanted to buy a new handphone just because our friends have it. We got bored with clothes we have and bought a bag of new ones only to be kept inside the already-full-closet again because we get bored quickly. We don't care again about what we eat as long as it's socially-accepted. We're dictated with materialistic doctrins. Have more, buy more, grab everything so you're cool and safe !
2010s.
Needless to say more. You know how shallowly fun it is to be superduper materialistic and making your house full and chaotic. Right? I've been there. And I want to move my attention to anything but material views. But I know, really, we've been shaped like this. It's in our bloodstream. To release the habit, we should actually control our thoughts about it.
Maybe we're okay, ourselves. But what about our parents and grandparents? Do we have to let them like that, or slowly motivate them to start letting go of things that only caused asthma and stagnancy? All those old books that invite fleas. These antique dinner set which was never used anyway. Your old Barbie dolls. And it's not easy to suggest them about this. Because it's all sentimental. Just. Be. Very. Careful. With. Their. Feeling.
My advice is, do it slowly. Also with yourself! Don't force yourself to be a sudden minimalist and impulsively throw everything out. You have to enjoy the proccess, because you'll learn a lot in the way. You'll learn why you started gathering items until you're drown inside 'em. You'll learn how you handle the acts of letting go. You'll learn why the sky is blue (okay, sorry, this one is absurd, yea). Once you handle your own ego and finally have some space to be enjoyed in your own room (or your area, if you have no private room in the house), you'll naturally invite your family members. Maybe your husband, your grandparents, parents, or greatgrandparents. And your aunties, uncles. Friends. Cousins. Everybody!
You will teach them even without actually tutoring them for real. Make them inspired by you. It's really effective--but yeah, it's slower. If they're actually very stubborn, just give 'em an article about hardcore hoarders case in other countries. Hehe.
Anyway, how's your holiday, folks? :) I'm sorting out some souvenirs now, while enjoying the 77 Days of No-Shop. Yea. But, okay, here's a confession: my jelly shoes were broken and can't be used anymore, and my other shoes were as bad as it. So I have let go 2 pairs of shoes in a week--a strong background of why I don't want to crave for girly shoes anymore to be used as a daily footwear. Anyway, the sin was: I bought a canvas shoes. I don't have a proper shoes to walk through the pathway without a substitution, since the other shoes I have are heeled & wedges. Which I keep for concerts and formal events.
I'm sorry, then.
Here's a blue sky. Enjoy.
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