# 4 - Less is more

The Top 10 Things I've Learned in My 50 years on this planet...

# 10 - Don't sweat the small stuff

#   9 - Being mean blows chunks

#   8 - You can't reason with the unreasonable

#   7 - I need quiet

#   6 - Life is unpredictable; change is constant

#   5 - Giving is good; receiving is hard

#   4 - Less is more

 

I'm not sure that my parents would have ever agreed with my # 4.  Maybe that's because they grew up in The Depression of the 1930's.  They were keepers.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing necessarily.  But I am saying that I do better with keeping less.

 

I have more time when I have less stuff to clean, dust, organize, store, pack away, or "save for someday."

 

I have more freedom when I have less stuff to admire, shine or have repaired - note I did not say "repair" since I don't ever repair things...no repair skills here.

 

I have more space when I have less stuff to take up space.  I know; brilliant statement, right?

 

I remember one time when I was giving away clothes to Goodwill.  They were nice clothes that simply did not fit me any more.  My parents saw the pile and couldn't believe I was giving them away.  My reply was something along the lines of "less is more."

 

We have a way of getting and collecting stuff.  I'm not a collector, and I don't usually shop for the "fun" of it.  Maybe I am too responsible...too much of a mother...think too often in terms of needs vs. wants...but I just rarely buy things that are wants rather than needs / things I will use regularly or use up.  Part of that is due to my # 4 - I really do believe less is more.  I grant you that today's retailers and marketers wouldn't ever want to use that phrase in their advertising, but it's what I have found to be true.

 

Ya know...that could be an interesting advertising campaign slogan sometime...a bit tricky...getting people to buy more of somethings while telling them less is more.  Intriguing...

 

Anyway, that's my # 4.  I'll keep it short and simple...because less is more.