Why all the stuff?!

Why? Why in the world do we accumulate so much stuff?! Today I was done with stuff. There is stuff everywhere in my house. And I could go through every single room and find broken toys, random batteries, dishes, random papers, canned goods, nerf bullets, art projects. I COULD NOT TAKE IT ANY LONGER. Let's all be reminded that I have a three year old and that is how I can explain the canned goods and the dishes, because he 'cooks' a lot. I actually found it embarrassing. I can see how it happens though. Every holiday, birthday, fair, something gets brought home. Nothing gets taken out. So we just keep piling it in. The funny thing is, it doesn't matter how big or small your home is. If you have a bigger house, you will just find a way to fill it up. Law of the vacuum. I find stuff exhausting. Because it is everywhere and you always have to clean. Something always has to be put away. Something is always on the floor. So I am always reminding my  kids to "put that away!" "Where does that go?!" "Why is this in the middle of the hallway?!" It just doesn't end. It is stressful to have the stuff, it is stressful to clean the stuff but, we just keep doing the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over......and over again. Albert Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." He is correct. And by that definition, I am insane. I actually have a hard time gift giving because of stuff. I think things like "Ugh, they will have to dust that, and that isn't very fun." Or, "What are they going to do with that?" "Where will they put that?" "How long will they have it before they put it in a rummage sale?" So, I have now moved to buying gift cards, which I honestly used to be against. "That is so impersonal," is what I would always say. But, I have changed my mind. At least people can buy something they know they need and they for sure can use. I am a fan of buying experiences....trampoline park, movie theater, restaurants....it's something people can do, enjoy and move on. Now, I do not want this to sound like I am ungrateful for stuff. I'm not. I am always grateful when someone gives me a gift, it is kind and I am appreciative. I just think there comes a point where we put too much value on having stuff, when that is not what life is about, to me. Life is about experiences and adventure. Life is now about not having so much stuff in every room of my house that makes me crazy. If you love stuff, I love that you love stuff. Now, I better get back to cleaning.