Buying a perfume that makes me gag because I simply had to have the bottle. Purchasing a book for the illustrations, without any interest in the literary content. Passing up bringing home an esthetically pleasing item that called to me only to wind up staying up until the wee hours hunting for it online. Sound familiar? Well, then you too have been bitten by the collecting bug. When I think about how many times I have tried to convince myself that once I owned a particular item, my addiction would be cured, I would be sated. Yeah, sure!
Is this hereditary? Has anyone discovered the gene? My father has always been an avid collector of stamps and coins. To be fair to myself, I will say that I have restrained my penchant for collecting quite a bit over the last few years. I think getting older and contemplating my own mortality has had some influence on tempering my accumulation of things. When they say, "You can't take it with you" are they speaking the truth?
I often wonder if the Pharaohs built their pyramids solely for the purpose of taking their valuables with them to the afterlife. Why leave them behind if you can own them for eternity? Makes sense to me. I most likely will not be erecting a pyramid in the near future, so which lucky individual will inherit my cherished stuff? Who will be worthy and appreciative of such riches? One of my nieces, whom I dearly love, is on the careless side. My nephew does take better care of his things, but will a person of the male gender appreciate the things that are of a more feminine style? I do spend a lot of time with my youngest niece, so I can possibly instill in her the responsibility of owning treasures.
Do you see the dilemma? I am not speaking of items that are worthy of hanging in the Louvre or being put up for auction at Sotheby's, but they are priceless to me nevertheless. I will conclude with some words of wisdom from my dearly departed grandmother..."You do not own things, they own you." (Very Zen-like coming from a Polish immigrant bubby.)
Is this hereditary? Has anyone discovered the gene? My father has always been an avid collector of stamps and coins. To be fair to myself, I will say that I have restrained my penchant for collecting quite a bit over the last few years. I think getting older and contemplating my own mortality has had some influence on tempering my accumulation of things. When they say, "You can't take it with you" are they speaking the truth?
I often wonder if the Pharaohs built their pyramids solely for the purpose of taking their valuables with them to the afterlife. Why leave them behind if you can own them for eternity? Makes sense to me. I most likely will not be erecting a pyramid in the near future, so which lucky individual will inherit my cherished stuff? Who will be worthy and appreciative of such riches? One of my nieces, whom I dearly love, is on the careless side. My nephew does take better care of his things, but will a person of the male gender appreciate the things that are of a more feminine style? I do spend a lot of time with my youngest niece, so I can possibly instill in her the responsibility of owning treasures.
Do you see the dilemma? I am not speaking of items that are worthy of hanging in the Louvre or being put up for auction at Sotheby's, but they are priceless to me nevertheless. I will conclude with some words of wisdom from my dearly departed grandmother..."You do not own things, they own you." (Very Zen-like coming from a Polish immigrant bubby.)
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