I should start by acknowledging that small tribute to Eminem. A little Detroit pride can go a long way.

Now for the topic at hand...

I've come to realize lately that, in my opinion, the worst possible kind of life to live is a stingy one. I am moving into a different neighborhood this weekend and decided that this time around instead of just boxing up everything and moving it all to the new place, that I could be a bit more intentional during this process and actually consider what I need to box up, and what I need to let go of.

I have asked myself several questions along the way, which can be neatly summed up in the following short phrases:

Question #1: "What is this?"
Question #2: "Where the heck did this even come from?"
Question #3: "Who did I steal this from?"
Question #4: "What was I thinking when I bought this?"
Question #5: "What were they thinking when they bought me this?"
Question #6: "Will it still fit?"
Question #7: "Will it ever come back in style?"
Question #8: "Was this ever in style?"
Question #9: "Will any future child of mine wear this on 90's day at school?"
Question #10: "Will anyone else even want this?"

I have had some particularly awful incidents in the kitchen. I have been finding things that I have never even taken out of the package: I found an unused mixer still in the box. This is not to say that I haven't had a need for a mixer, its just that I have had TWO this whole time. I was going through my utensil drawer, and couldn't believe how many things I had multiple versions of. How many spatulas does a person need? How many slotted spoons can one person own? Have I ever used a slotted spoon? The most horrifying item that I found in multitudes were wooden spoons. I found four wooden spoons, and two faux-wooden spoons. Did you know they even made faux-wood? Well apparently they do. What on earth could I possibly need SIX wooden spoons for? There are only so many things in this world that require stirring.

This whole process has been completely nuts.

It has got me thinking though, about how much stuff I have accummulated, and how easy it is to not let go of it. I hate the fact that this is true, but there's always that voice that says "But what if I need that later?" What if? But then I realized my question is not a concern of whether or not I might really need something, but essentially "What if one day I'm in the mood to use THAT wooden spoon instead of THIS one?" I'm not sure its possible to hide the selfishness in this situation. I start thinking about the refugee families in Grand Rapids who have left everything they have had in hopes of a new life--and although these items seem trivial in light of the situation--who could put my extra spoons and mixer and towels and lamps to good use. Am I really willing to keep something "incase I'm in the mood to use it later" knowing that someone else doesn't have one at all?

What an awful way to live. Being stingy.

I think that perhaps being generous is the one thing that might change the world. I believe that love can change the world...but perhaps generosity is one in the same. Think of the things that would change if we became people who were more generous....the widening gap between the rich and the poor would quickly diminish...the hungry would be fed...the sick would be taken care of....wars about what land belonged to whom would cease... Its more than money and belongings. What if we were generous with our time?

He wasn't the first, but John Lennon seemed to figure this out a while ago...
"Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can?
No greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people sharing all the world..."

And last, to leave you with the best possession that I found while cleaning out my closet....behold, the pair of furry cow pants that I made during my first hour sewing class my senior year of high school. THESE I may be stingy with.

here's what the front of the pants look like.

Here's what my pants look like when I'm telling you to bring it on.

here's what my pants look like when I take them to the gun show.*

*I thought about making some kind of statement to say that I wasn't flexing in this picture...but then I realized it wouldn't look any different if I was.