Post #2073905

2026-05-05 07:53 UTC

Interesting read about why we keep so much stuff. Guilty as charged: &quot;Jordan identifies three common patterns: the “aspirational self” keeps gym equipment and untouched language course textbooks, proof of who we intend to become; the “sunk-cost self” holds on because too much money was spent; and the “nostalgic self” holds on to what Jordan calls “spirit tokens”, objects kept as proof of a former self. Men and CD collections are her go-to example. The Radiohead album isn’t really about music; it is about the person who knew about Radiohead before everyone else. Underneath the spirit token is the fear of losing a self you once recognised. That is not trivial. But awareness of it creates a choice: do you want to keep living in a museum of who you were, or make room for who you are?&quot; https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/may/01/you-are-what-you-keep-why-we-cling-to-clutter-and-how-to-free-yourself-of-it #declutter #minimalism #psychology

Replies (2)

@fringemagnet@sunny.garden 2026-05-05 08:40

@chris@mstdn.games Interesting read, and makes some solid arguments that I think are worth thinking about. That said, I feel that the "Men and CD collections are her go-to example. The Radiohead album isn’t really about music; it is about the person who knew about Radiohead before everyone else" point is extremely unfortunate, and only does a disservice to an otherwise solid article. Both because of its archaic gendered approach, as if women don't love and collect music, of all things, but also for its failing to acknowledge the love of art as part of it. Not sure what expertise a "professional organiser" can offer on the sentimental aspect, but I believe this could have been worded a bit better. I much prefer the more nuanced approach offered by the psychologists above that doesn't frame all sentimental attachment to items from our past as inherently bad. Plus, in the day of digital shenanigans where Spotify can decide to cut you off from the music you love for whatever reasons, owning physical media is not really the first clutter you should think of getting rid of. *clenching my Radiohead CDs with one hand and typing this mini-essay with the other*

Open ##2185789
@hk@mstdn.games 2026-05-05 09:00

@chris@mstdn.games lol I am all of those three at once XD

Open ##2185791