Thanks for the positive feedback and sharing your story. I love your idea that owning stuff is our futile attempt to own a piece of the world. You hit the nail on the head. We “own” nothing … In the most literal sense. You can buy land, but what you really do is “rent” the land until you sell it or die (it’s not yours forever). Nothing is permanent.
Keeping clutter only allows you to have it nearby for when you might want it. But as you have found out, you don’t want it that often, and there is also a cost in your mental state to have that “stuff” available any time you want it.

An empty canvas allows for creativity than a “cluttered” canvas.

Thanks for a great post! Clutter and stuff is the bane of modern existance. A recent move made me confront “my stuff.”

Moving is always a great time to unload. I don’t consider myself a very materialistic person but because I’m very creative, artsy, and bookish there still was a lot of stuff.

As I looked over my stuff I realized how quickly the novelty of owning things wears off. Stuff I was certain I had to have held no appeal anymore.

Moving into a new space has allowed me to see how little I need to be happy. A friend of mine whose house burnt down recently discovered the same thing.

I am enjoying my new uncluttered space immensely. I can think much better. I feel freer. I think a driving need to collect and have stuff is the feeling that you own a piece of the world, which is an illusion.

Today I’m happy to just be in this world.

Catherine L. Taylor, Weight Loss Master
http://www.secretsofaweightlossmaster.com