John B. Marek is a storyteller with dirt under his nails who weaves tales inspired by a lifetime immersed in nature. His insightful essays and award-winning fiction delve into the complexities of sustainable living, the heart of rural communities and the thrill of outdoor adventure. You can find more of his writing at johnbmarek.com.
These days, it seems like the holidays all meld into one another. Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s to … Storage. Okay, maybe Storage isn’t an actual holiday, but retailers have started treating it like it is. Walk into any big box store, from Home Depot to Dollar Tree, the first week in January, and you’ll find the shelves brimming with big plastic bins, wooden cubbies, cardboard boxes, vacuum-sealing bags and other storage solutions. In a way, it makes sense. Most people have acquired a bunch of new stuff for Christmas and need to sort out and put away the things they got last year to make room. It’s a never-ending cycle, but is it really a good way to live?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against gift-giving, but the unfettered accumulation of stuff has expanded to the point that now we need even more stuff to store it. The problem isn’t the holidays themselves – it’s the mindset they often reinforce: that more is better, that new is necessary and that our worth is tied to what we own. The storage industry capitalizes on this, offering endless solutions to help us organize our clutter. But buying more bins and boxes to store things we don’t truly need is like putting a Band-Aid on a festering wound. Instead of finding better ways to store our stuff, perhaps we should focus on having less stuff to begin with.
I’ll admit, I’m a fan of “American Pickers,” the TV show where Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz (and now Robbie Wolfe) rummage through barns, garages and basements filled to the brim with decades-old junk. There’s something fascinating about the treasures they uncover – vintage signs, antique motorcycles and forgotten relics of Americana. Each item has its own story, and the show does an excellent job of highlighting the history and nostalgia behind these objects. While I enjoy watching them sift through piles of items, it also serves as a cautionary tale. Those barns full of junk didn’t get that way overnight. They’re the result of years, even decades, of accumulation. And while it’s entertaining to watch someone else’s clutter, it’s a stark reminder that enough is enough.
The truth is that most of us don’t have barns to store our excess belongings, and our closets, attics and garages quickly become overcrowded, leaving us feeling overwhelmed. The lessons from “American Pickers” should go beyond the excitement of the hunt; it should teach us to recognize when something has outlived its purpose. Yes, the pickers unearth some amazing finds, but they have to sift through mountains of trash first. The barns featured in the show serve as a metaphor for our own lives: When we hold on to too much, we risk burying the things that truly matter beneath layers of clutter.
To break free from this cycle of toxic accumulation, we can adopt a “one in, one out” rule. This means that for every new item that enters our home, we let go of something old. This simple practice helps maintain balance and prevents clutter from taking over. For example, if we receive a new sweater as a holiday gift, we can donate an older one that no longer brings us joy. This approach not only helps us keep our possessions in check but also encourages a more mindful way of living and giving.
Another effective way to reduce clutter is to shift our focus from material gifts to experiences. Instead of exchanging physical items, we can opt for gifts like concert tickets, cooking classes or a weekend getaway. Experiences help create lasting memories without contributing to the accumulation of belongings in our homes. They remind us that the best gifts often aren’t things – they’re the moments we share with the people we love.
As we enter the new year, let’s challenge the idea that having more is always better. Instead of rushing to buy storage solutions for our holiday items, let’s take a moment to reflect: Do we really need all this stuff? By adopting a more intentional approach to consumption and decluttering, we can start the year with a lighter, freer and more fulfilling life. As “American Pickers” reminds us, even the most interesting treasures can become burdens when there is simply too much. Enough truly is enough.