We Own Them, They Don't Own Us
How do we become more skillful in our relationship to things?
Much of our lives is spent purchasing, returning, taking care of, cleaning, putting away, moving, and getting rid of things.
We acquire possessions through purchase, gifts, and inheritance.
Once we are owners, possessions demand a large portion of our life energy.
What do we do with the things we no longer use and the things that belonged to the people we loved dearly?
Our choices about possessions shape our lives.
Most of us experience a complex range of intense emotions toward possessions.
As Americans, we are trained consumers.
We often purchase with mixed feelings, however.
We know we have too much stuff.
At the same time, we often feel, in fact are conditioned to feel, that we don't have enough.