Stuff.

Before I read All My Life for Sale by John Freyer I'd already made a few assumptions. At first I assumed it was going to be a narrative by another modern Thoreau swept up by simplicity.I assumed he sold his possessions to find inner peace and freedom from worldly goods but as it turns out he sold his stuff (at first) just to make some money to leave Iowa. I mean I would sell all my stuff to leave Iowa too. This surprised me. As his project grew out of hand he acquired things truly valuable in life- like friends. I guess I wasn't entirely too far from the Thoreau theory.
This story paired with the audio clip of George Carlin's bit on stuff has really prompted me to question the value of my own possessions- Am I in some way held back by my stuff? Yeah, I am. My computer broke (like broke, broke) the day before classes started. I cried when I found out it couldn't be fixed. I was so overwhelmed by being in a new place, without friends, and now without my computer (meaning harder time checking my email, facebook, and just distracting myself). I went a week without my computer and it was hard. I even had access to other computers and it was still hard. I worry when my phone dies. I always have my ipod, cell phone and a book on me at all times. I'm addicted to my things but I wouldn't say I'm an anomaly. I would say a majority of people in Kent, Ohio have a cell phone and that they keep it with them at all times. I would also say a large number of those people check their facebooks once a day. I'm really glad I read this article because, though I probably won't sell all of my stuff, I recognize that I probably need to detach myself from a few things. I think it would be healthy to limit my facebook time and leave my cell phone at home more. I should probably question whether I need the things I buy and maybe I will sell a few things.