In 2014, the LA Times estimated that the average US household contains approximately 300000 objects.
We’ve accumulated so many objects that entire industries are built around the organization, remediation, offsite storage, and psychological issues associated with the acquisition and keeping of things.
I’ve not counted the objects in my home, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I hit the average in my garage alone.
We love stuff, and apparently, I’m no different.
As new empty nesters, we’ve been working through the pile of objects accumulated over the last 25 years of family life. Like many in our phase, this inflection point provides the motivation necessary to do the work.
But it’s been surprisingly hard.
I know why it’s been hard — the emotions attached to specific objects. Each object I hold in my hand has a story. That story might be overtly sentimental, i.e., a 2nd-grade father’s day note or a holiday gift, but often, the attached story is low-key and sneakily powerful.
Unearthing these otherwise pedestrian gems, feeling their weight, and running my fingers over their contours transport me to a specific time and place. The emotions of that moment well up and sometimes overflow —likely more powerful today than they were at the moment.
Memories of simple moments such as a funny face or comment, a hug or snub, or the churning of small legs across the yard overwhelm me with gratitude. All inspired by a simple object.
The power of objects is the story we remember.
