WHICH CLUTTER ANIMAL ARE YOU? Part 2, the hermit crab, the squirrel and the elephant.
The hermit crab
A frightening number of people in these difficult financial times, still believe it’s a necessity to move to a larger house just so that they can keep all their stuff and so that they don’t have to face purging their possessions. A hermit crab does this time after time.
The hermit crab solution
Hermit crabs are endearingly optimistic creatures. They like to believe that their time on this planet is endless. So they keep everything connected to everything they were ever interested in, in case they need it again, because they’re sure they’ll have time to use it. If this is you, your house is filled full of everything you’ll need for 7 lifetimes, instead of one. Which explains why it would fill 7 houses…. Hermit crabs will move to larger and larger houses rather than get rid of things they no longer really need. If that’s you, when you think about how much storing all that stuff is costing you, in terms of a larger mortguage, plus heating and lighting etc, is this a luxury you can really afford? It’s hard, but recognise that you only have a limited time here, and prioritise. Also, you’d do well to learn from the snake (which will be featured next time).
The squirrel
The squirrel is well intentioned, and hates waste or meaningless consumption, and will save anything which they think will come in ‘useful’. Their house is full of things like carefully washed jam jars, or containers of screws, all neatly stored, but there’s no room to move.
The squirrel solution
It’s always good to save things that you know you’ll find a definite use for. Too often however, the thrifty squirrel has lost perspective and saves everything ‘just in case’ regardless of how much that inconviences everyone. The squirrel has lost sight of the fact that throwing things away is not ‘waste’ if it means they can be recycled, or given to someone who needs the item. And they’ve lost sight of the fact that a home is for living in joyfully, and not a warehouse or a shrine to thrift. Older people who are squirrels should be aware that cluttered hallways and doorways may make it impossible for the emergency services to reach them in the event of a fire. They need to remember that they (and their safety and comfort) are more important than their ‘things’.
The elephant
Keeping lots of memorabilia (sometimes stored very haphazardly) is the sign of the elephant, who wants to make sure they never forget. They will insist on holding onto every greeting card, or scruffy jumper their Auntie Maud knitted for them, even if it’s un-wearable.
The elephant solution
Elephants have either mistaken ‘things’ for quality time spent strengthening connections with their loved ones, or they have no choice but to use possessions as a substitute. If the former, don’t let things become a substitute for telling loved ones that you value them, and creating new and good memories with them. If the person you’re remembering is far away (perhaps your parents live on another continent and you miss them and can’t afford to visit) or has passed on, then do try to recognise the function that holding onto those sentimental things fulfils for you. In both cases, prune items down to the top 10% and store in such a way that you can really enjoy them, either as display items (like your father’s medals) or in a pretty storage box in the living room where you can and will access them.
Next time, in the final part we’ll be looking at the ostrich, the snake, the phoenix and the cuckoo.
