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 Today I was reading in the Wall Street Journal an article about the elderly bequething their precious things to the younger generation only to have the items rejected. Commenters suggested that the young no longer value quality. I have been thinking about this because I have seen my mom and mother-in-law in the midst of downsizing. I too, have been the recipient of unwanted items. 

There are a few things to consider:

*Styles change--and things are tastes and styles have changed faster than ever due to mass-produced items. Many of these items do not hold their value--and this holds true today as much as it does on items mass-produced 50 years ago. 

*Less is more. We have shifted from an era where each piece of furniture, clothing, accessory was hard-earned. The quality was better. Now days, we are inundated with "fast fashion" items, Ikea, and Walmart. It is easy to become overloaded with "stuff". Like barnacles on a boat, we are weighted down with the sheer amount of items in households these days. Inheriting items, however sentimental or high quality adds to this burden.

Stuff is just that--stuff. In an age of excess, minimalism offers a freedom only found as we release ourselves and others from the care and storage. Instead, I aim to have a more curated home. 

A few years ago, I went to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Salt Lake. The three-story museum held three floors of every item a person would ever use from 1847 to present day. Class cases showcased thousands of intricately made doilies and antimacassars. Another glass case showed needlework and embroidery of tea towels. There were row of burgeoning displays of handiwork from every great-great grandmother that ever lived in the great state of Utah. The museum was overwhelming and cluttered. Contrast this with world-renowned museums, were each piece is thoughtfully displayed and the majority of the collection actually sits in storage as to not overwhelm patrons and to create interest from a constantly changing installation. This is how I want my home to be.  


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