Gratitude for what we no longer need

I’m often looking for something I’ve missed or overlooked when it comes to expressing gratitude. Today, I ran across a couple of Hawaiian shirts that I no longer need. As I was thinking about giving them away, I was reminded of my first trip to the big island where I got them, how I was immediately in sync with the island’s energy, and how I continued to think about that experience for weeks after. In that moment I realized I was feeling a surge of gratitude for something old, something I no longer needed, something I had long shunned. Possibly, I had kept it for purely sentimental reasons.

When we no longer need something that is otherwise useful, there’s a good chance someone else will feel grateful for receiving it. Yet, I’ve hung on to many things that have plainly cluttered my space. Clutter is defined as a confused or disordered state; a jumble, like stuffed dresser drawers or packed closets hiding clothes that have been out of style for years. Personally, I’ve hung onto items like a coffee maker, a blender, and a juicer that I no longer used because I didn’t want them to sit in a landfill. That’s very noble so they instead sat in a corner of my kitchen, not quite out of sight.

The accumulation of clutter is very common. The LA Times reported that the average American household has 300,000 items. It’s estimated that 1 out of every 10 Americans rent offsite storage and that there are over 7 feet of self-storage space for every person living in the US.

Organizing experts say that those who live in a cluttered and disorganized home can feel less focus and energy, increased irritability and stress, and an inability to relax. This does no favors for sleep quality, productivity, or immune function.

I’ve noticed a significant weight lifts off me when I buckle down to spring clean and organize. By donating clothes I no longer wear and items I no longer use, my home feels brighter, and I do, too. Experts coined the term “home pride”—the appreciation we have for our space and for ourselves brought by a tidy and orderly living environment. A sentiment that comes with home pride is “I wish I’d done this a lot sooner.”

Lately, I’ve enjoyed the convenience of posting my donations to Youtropolis' Recycle Bin. Instead of accumulating giveaways, I post them as I run across them. I’m mindful that others may need what I no longer do and feel grateful for them. And I like the idea that everything in the Recycle Bin is free for anyone to claim, unlike those pricey items or not-so-cheap designer clothes you find in thrift shops.

If you have an overabundance of stuff that’s taking up space, consider posting smaller items into your Youtropolis Recycle Bin. Clothes, small appliances, books, and toys will happily be claimed by others. Along with feeling good about your neater, more organized home, you'll be providing something of value to others. Maybe you’ll even feel some gratitude for what you no longer need.

Posting to your Recycle Bin is easy. From your city home page, click “Start something new here…” and select “Recycle it!”, select your audience, write a description of the item, upload a photo of it by clicking Add Image, and click Save.