No picture today, sorry. I don’t want to offend anyone with a picture on this topic. This is a short, unplanned post based on the very current events in my life.
So…
A funny (strange) thing happened on my way to work today.
Our Garage Burned Down
Twice really.
The firemen left once this morning only to have to return an hour later after the fire restarted.
I’m not making light of it, I assure you. Especially in the wake of the tragedy in Haiti, and for all those who’ve lost their entire homes and/or loved one’s in fires.
I’m also not looking for any sympathy. My family’s safe, the main house was untouched so we have shelter and food and are just as comfortable as we were when we woke this morning.
We’re just a little lighter in regards to stuff and that’s made me reflect…
It was an electrical fire in the walls of the garage that took out a bunch of storage bins that we’d carted over from the attic of the previous place, plus some stuff I’d recently decluttered as part of the 100 Thing Challenge. The structure of the garage is totaled and that will be a bit of an issue given that it’s mid-winter in Buffalo.
It will take us months of slowly tossing the stuff, given the restrictions on garbage pickup in my city. But the fact is, I can’t feel bad about the stuff lost. I feel badly for the structure being lost, and the hard work that my brother in law and friends have put into securing the structure today so that it wouldn’t fall over and possibly damage the neighbors’ property.
But the stuff inside is just stuff. Some of it is sentimental like yearbooks and old tools from my wife’s deceased father.
Most of the rest of the stuff long ceased adding value to our lives.
The lesson for me is that it would have been better to have passed the stuff on to someone else long before it got banished to an attic, then a garage. Someone who might value it instead of storing it away.
And so it’s with a fresh perspective that I view my 100 Thing Challenge today…and that I am very thankful for the family I have.
Stuff is just stuff.
People and relationships are important. Stuff isn’t. I don’t care how hard you worked for your luxury car or your antique collection or your art work on the walls. It’s stuff.
Wishing you all well…
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Glad to hear that the fire didn’t take out anything vital. Hah, I also just got your title. Clever, clever
I have my moments…
Hey charley, great post! Yes, clever title
I think you bring up a really good point about de-cluttering – that sometimes you keep things, but after a while you forget about them, and on the off chance they disappear, you may not even notice or care. (Except if it involves a fire of course).
I’m happy to hear that you and your family are okay. Fires are scary.
Like you said, “stuff is just stuff.” With all the bad news (e.g. Haiti), I’ve been reflecting on my life, how I can help others, and provide value in this crazy world.
David from the Simple Organized Life wrote a great post yesterday about how the people in Haiti would love to have a simple and organized life. It’s easy to get caught up in everyday dramas and forget that we are very privileged.
Be well and keep up the good work.
Glad you are all safe and well and the house is fine.
Hi Erin,
Thank you, we are all just fine. Saw your site and added it to my feed. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
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