I’m sitting in SFO, waiting for my flight to start boarding. Local time is 10:30PM, the flight will start boarding at 11:45PM, and we will take off at 12:15AM. Happy New Year!
I’ve been home for about a week, and although I didn’t bring much clothing back, I have come to realize that I could have brought NO clothing back.
- I would have more room to take food back to Columbus.
- My jeans from 7th grade still fit.
- If all else fails, I can wear Lee Mama’s clothes.
As I was packing today, I tried to tidy up my room a bit, and folding some sweaters to put in my bureau, I realized that I wouldn’t wear them again for a year, if at all. I will next be home in June for Erin and Will’s wedding, but June in the Bay does not usually call for sweater vests and *ahem* first kiss sweaters. How lucky am I to travel, to see my family, and to have…once a year sweaters.
It seems to me that I shouldn’t have all these belongings that I only need once a year. Lee Mama always tells me to clear out my closets and donate what I don’t need. As I said, my jeans from 7th grade still fit, so I insist to her (and myself) that these things still have room in my life. I might even argue that no one else would want my clothes anyway.
Normally, I consider myself pretty solidly middle class. My coffers are not abounding in riches; my gadgets are not particularly fancy. But, with the distribution of resources the way they are in this world, I’m sure that compared to many, my life represents incredible wealth. In the coming year, I should keep this thought in mind when I am tempted by material sirens. In 2011, I hope to fill my coffers with love and diligence; the gadgets should serve only to enhance my relationship with loved ones.
