Letting go of our possessions

This photo shows all the Barbie dolls that I bought for my daughter when she was in primary school. They are as good as new as I think I subconsciously bought them for myself although they were presents given to her on various occasions. They are now in a plastic container because I feel sad to part with them as I am with so many other things. How many people are like me in that I am reluctant to give away:

• Clothes and shoes that no longer fit me;
• Handbags that take up precious cupboard space
• Paper-back novels that we hope one day to read again;
• Fridge magnets accumulated over various trips
• Souvenirs in the form of vases, key chains, decorative items;
• Shawls that I no longer use because I keep buying new ones.

What will predictably happen is that the clothes will be kept for years not benefiting anyone and years later, they become outdated and will be thrown away; the handbags will have mould growing on them, leather will crack from disuse and metal buckles become unsightly; the books will fall apart; the fridge magnets will lose their attractiveness because the material will deteriorate; souvenirs we display and keep boxes for years will be in a state fit for throwing away and my shawls will end up as rags in the worse case scenario.

My Barbie dolls are right now as good as useless objects and I might have stored them somewhere where they can possibly lie forgotten for the next 10 years. Together will all the things that I now have but have no use for, I am potentially a contributor to the landfills of the future. Meanwhile other people who could use these possessions that I have no use for are purchasing the same or similar items. In 10 years' time, all of us will be disposing of similar Barbie dolls, fridge magnets, paper back novels etc. because we are so like each other in the way we buy, keep and discard things.

There must be a way to make those things in our possession useful again so that there is no need to keep spending money on things. Oops, that might not be good for the economy but it sure will do the environment some good. So in saving the earth, we also need to to waste not, want not or is it the other way round. Whichever it is, being kind to the environment is more than consious acts to reduce, reuse and recycle. It really has to do with one's values and beliefs and philosophy of life. I really have to learn to let go and let things go where they will be of use to others instead of cluttering up my home with them. There must be many ways to let go other than the yearly trips to the Salvation Army just before Christmas. But first, I have to learn to let go...