Aspirational Clutter

I can’t believe that I’m guilty, but I am! This past week I saw a post from a guy named Paul in my new Buy Nothing group. He was requesting metal buckets for icing beverages. His post caught my eye. I had contemplated getting rid of two metal buckets during my recent move. Yet, I had decided to keep them. About five days after seeing his post I looked back at it to see if he had any replies. He had none. So I asked myself “when was the last time you used these metal buckets?” and the answer was “back in San Diego”. Doing some quick math that was seventeen years ago!

When I lived in San Diego, my last house and community was great for hosting big parties. And when I turned fifty I had a huge party in the community clubhouse which was quite posh. I must have invited near 100 people and more than 50 attended. It was a fun and memorable event!

Fast forward to now and if I am honest with myself, I’d much prefer a gathering of 3-7 people. And if I hosted such an event, I’d get into planning and cooking. The beverages would come from the fridge or my glass decanter. The likelihood that I would use these metal buckets is less than 3%. The gap of seventeen years only highlights that.

I first had to come to grips with a change. My ice bucket party days are over. My life is different now. If an event comes up where I want or need something like this, I can borrow an ice chest. I can also come up with a solution then. I had to let go of my aspirational self that still hosts big parties. I needed to allow that fond memory to be just that…a fond memory.

Ends up Paul is getting married this summer and will be using the buckets for his wedding. He now has a solution and I have more space in my pantry which is welcome. It makes sense to ask ourselves when we last used something. We should recognize when we are hanging on more for how we view ourselves than our actual reality. I’m grateful to Paul for showing me this.

Where are you clinging to aspirational clutter?