A lot of people have “prized” collections of something.
But when we dig in, it turns out they have like 500 in their “prized” collection of pigs, owls, horses — and all types: metal horses, stuffed horses, glass horses, horse plates, and horse sweatshirts.
And it’s all their favorite.
But it’s impossible to love 500 things. You can’t even remember 450 of those things, so how can you love them?
And typically, this isn’t their only collection. They also collect stamps, books, National Geographics, candles, quilts and pictures of pianos.
Today, I am writing to invite you to stop collecting. Once you reach 500 things in your collection, it’s no longer a hobby, it’s an addiction.
Now, if you collect Monets and Chagalls, fine. They may actually appreciate. But most people collect junk.
And then they think one day they will sell their collection for millions of dollars. (See Beanie Babies.)
Please repeat after me: STUFF DOES NOT APPRECIATE. Even your jewelry will not fetch what you think it will. The appraisal and what it will sell for are two different prices.
Now if you have hundreds of rare books, and they bring you joy, keep them. It’s just that one “collection” tends to be a slippery slope and leads to another — “I must collect books AND birds!”
Your home is not a museum, says Fumio Sasaki, author of “Goodbye Things.” (Hat tip to Shannon Fields for this. She read the book.)
It’s time to do some inner work to fill your emotional holes. Collecting more stuff will fill up your house, but it won’t satisfy your soul.