How to Let Go of a Lifetime of Treasures - Diablo Magazine - October 2012 - East Bay - California

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[Background on, & press coverage of, Unconsumption can be found here and here.]

Consumption is a word used to describe acts of acquisition – generally, the acquisition of things, in exchange for money.

Unconsumption is a word used to describe everything that happens after an act of acquisition.

Unconsumption is an invisible badge.

Unconsumption means the accomplishment of properly recycling your old cellphone, rather than the guilt of letting it sit in a drawer.

Unconsumption means the thrill of finding a new use for something that you were about to throw away.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a service like Freecycle (or Craigslist, Goodwill, or Salvation Army) to find a new home for the functioning DVD player you just replaced, rather than throwing it in the garbage.

Unconsumption means enjoying the things you own to the fullest – not just at the moment of acquisition.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a pair of sneakers until they are truly worn out – as opposed to the nagging feeling of defeat when they simply go out of style.

Unconsumption means feeling good about the simple act of turning off the lights when you leave the room.

Unconsumption is not about the rejection of things, or the demonization of things. It’s not a bunch of rules.

Unconsumption is an idea, a set of behaviors, a way of thinking about consumption itself from a new perspective.

Unconsumption is free.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Founder & Editor: Rob Walker, journalist, Savannah, GA

Editorial & Community Manager: Molly Block, marketing and business development geek, Houston, TX

Brian W. Jones, designer & writer, Göteborg, Sweden

Kashvi Kumar, Environmental Studies and Economics major at New York University

Deirdre Nelson, ever threading artist, Glasgow, Scotland

Shanna Trenholm, writer. catalyst. force of nature. San Diego, CA

* * *

Alumnus & Unconsumption logo creator: Clifton Burt, graphic designer, Portland, OR

Further information about Unconsumption can be found here.

11:42 am - Sat, Oct 20, 2012: 41 notes

How to Let Go of a Lifetime of Treasures - Diablo Magazine - October 2012 - East Bay - California

Facing the demise or diminishing capacities of a parent is difficult enough. Disposing of items you’ve known all your life can drive the sharp blade of loss deeper. Ten years after my father’s death from prostate cancer, I had to move my mom into a care home and deal with everything left behind. I’ve walked out of estate sales because it’s just too painful to see strangers tramping through a deceased old lady’s house, pawing through her closets and drawers, and I didn’t want that for my mom and dad.

I was determined to handle my parents’ things with tenderness. As hard as it was, I found that letting go of my parents’ possessions in a way that gave them another purpose made the process less daunting.

The bedroom furniture turned out to be the only thing I sold on Craigslist. I found new homes for everything else by donating, recycling, or giving things to family and friends. …

…

Giving my parents’ 20th century detritus a green send-off felt good, like sunlight breaking through a situation fraught with clouds. To those going through a similar situation: Find the best possible places for their possessions, and you’ll be amazed at how good it feels. Here are some tips from my experience.

Read the rest here.

Via The Billfold