Monday 13 June 2016

Dump the Dead Weight

No, I’m not talking about your good for nothing, soon to be ex, I’m talking about the stuff we carry around with us on a daily basis. Okay, the stuff that I carry around with me on a daily basis.

Due to the nature of my lifestyle, I am constantly aware of how much stuff I have. I really do have a limited amount of space and I haul everything I own, everywhere I go. 

That means that everything that I own takes up space and weight and needs to therefor justify its existence based on these two criteria. As in, is it worth the space that it takes up and its weight. 

Why is this important? Well, for one the trailer is rated to only carry so much and two the truck can only tow so much. When you add this to the fact that the more my truck and trailer weigh, the harder they are to tow and therefore the more fuel that I will burn just moving around.

This means that what I own falls into three categories: 

1. Functional
2. Sentimental
3. Dead Weight

I really have to be callus and hard when it comes to what I own due to how I live. I am constantly evaluating what I purchase, and asking myself, do I need this? 

At least once a year, in springtime, I go through everything that I own, pull out every box and compartment and ask myself the same question. This year I decided to do it twice; as last time I really didn’t toss out that much.

So, that is what I did this weekend; besides make another massive batch of food for lunches. It gets easier with each pass. 

This is something that everyone can do, all you do is look at what you own and ask yourself three questions:

1. Have I used it in the last six months or will I need it in the next six months?
2. Does it have sentimental value to me?
3. Can I buy it again?

This should help you pare down what you own really fast. It is surprising how much stuff we accumulate if we are in one location for too long. Most of the stuff we have would not survive this simple test. 

Every now and again, it is healthy and positive to go through what you have and toss out what you don’t need. For me it is for practical reasons, for the rest of you, it may just be a healthy exercise. 

As always: keep your head up, your attitude positive and keep moving forward!

(But, by all means, dump that good for nothing so and so, after all dead weight is dead weight.)

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