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Being Happier with Less

Tomorrow marks the first full day of autumn and the third anniversary of my newest tradition: The Autumn Toss-Out.

I began this ritual a few years ago after reading a book by Peter Walsh called, “It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff.” (Well, I’m over forty. I had a lot of stuff!) How can this effect your health and wellness? Well, Peter explains in real-world terms, and with as much sympathy as possible, that in our accumulation we create unnecessary stress and overwhelm in our lives. An excerpt from his book reads;

“You want a life built on a solid foundation, but you can’t even see the floor beneath you. You want to lose weight but your kitchen is overwhelmed with appliances you never use. You want to build your career, but your office literally makes you feel ill. You want to change? This is where it starts: your home. Where you live, breathe rest, love and create. Get rid of the clutter. Get organized. If you do, I promise that every aspect of your life will change in ways that you never imagined possible.”

A point that struck a particularly resonating chord with me is that many times we have so much stuff that we lose track of it, don’t even remember what we have, and eventually just get more of the same. Or, we keep something supposedly for sentimental reasons but we don’t honor and respect its significance. Instead, we squirrel it away in some dark forgotten corner until one day it’s re-discovered and promptly hidden away again.

Well, to make a long story short, I’m taking the autumnal change as my queue to “toss-out” all that doesn’t have a positive function in my current life. I’ll go through my home, pull out clothes that no longer fit my family or that we haven’t worn in over a year and set them aside for donations. The same goes for books and other ephemeral data that will be sent to resale shops or recycling.

In other words, I'll focus only on keeping what’s important and pulls me forward in my life. Possessions really can “weigh you down” if you let them. For a more thorough explanation of the benefits of “letting stuff go,” I suggest reading Joe Walsh’s book. It’s a quick, easy read and if applied to your life, will help make it a happier one indeed.

Enjoy the autumn weather and as always – Enjoy Your Life!

John Aaron Villarreal


Bio: I am a Houston based, male massage therapist and wellness coach specializing in pain management and health programs for individuals over the age of forty. I laugh - a lot. I'm quirky but sincere. And, while I'm not a counselor, I do listen and I do care: Except for the times that I don't. That’s a joke - Did I mention that I like to laugh? Anyway, visit my website, call or email me and let's get together to talk about you, and the many ways to live life better!
The Legal Stuff: I write to inform, inspire and encourage my readers to enjoy all that life has to offer.
The content and information on this site is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease.
Please consult your physician prior to starting any exercise, diet or wellness program.
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