We've all heard that we need to take responsibility for our actions. But we also need to take responsibility for our possessions. We cannot just consume and then plan to wipe our hands of these things when we leave a home or this planet. We can't just leave it for someone else to deal with. We owe it to our families. We owe it to our friends. We owe it to our communities. And we owe it to our planet.
Over the past few years, I have visited numerous dwellings that were filled with possessions; houses that were sold as is, houses filled with giant collections and most recently, a dwelling of someone who had passed away. Yes, there is the excitement of the treasure hunt looking through these places. But at many times, it has been frustrating, exhausting and even sad, to try and figure out things to do with all of the stuff. I am personally caught in the middle, as I don't want so much new stuff to be made, but I also don't want to see all the stuff already here end up in the landfill. And so much of the stuff I have seen is unfortunately trash to begin with.
Sure, not everyone can plan for a sudden move or death. But anybody reading this can take steps. We ALL need to look at the impact that we individually create and truly accept that we can't take any of it when we go. Do we want our loved ones to have to deal with it? Do we want the items that we spent money and time on to simply be given away to strangers or potentially trashed? Do we want people feeling angry at us for leaving it for them to deal with? Do we want our legacy to be stuff?
Wouldn't it be better to get these things to people who would enjoy them and give them a second life, while you're still living yours? It will make them feel good and that will surely make you feel good. And doing good as a human is a great legacy to leave.