The other day, while brewing coffee in the morning, a lightbulb went out in my kitchen. Not an uncommon occurrence I suppose.
But for some reason, on this particular morning, the common event bothered me more than usual. (Maybe because my coffee hadn’t finished brewing… if you know what I mean).
I remember looking up at the now-darkened lightbulb and thinking to myself in a frustrated tone, “Why can’t everything just work for once? Can I ever escape constantly needing to maintain and fix the stuff I own?”
I caught myself mid-paragraph.
Because the obvious answer is “No.” And I know that.
I mean, I’m in my mid-40’s. A handsome and youthful-looking mid-40s, sure. But I still know how life works:
All the things we own, regardless of the number, perish, spoil, or fade. Everything physical needs to be maintained to some extent.
Clothes need to be washed. Carpets need to be vacuumed. Beds need to be made. Oil needs to be changed. Shelves need to be dusted. Batteries need to be replaced. Showers need to be scrubbed.
And lightbulbs need to be changed.
That is the reality of the physical possessions we own. Nothing lasts forever. Everything needs to be maintained.
Every little thing.
This is why I chose minimalism as a lifestyle in the first place. Rather than being frustrated at a lightbulb that needs to be changed, I should find some joy in the fact that I need to change less of them than ever before.
When I speak about minimalism, I often make a joke about lightbulbs, in fact. I talk about my past desire to own a larger home (despite the fact that we didn’t even use all the rooms in our existing house).
But as I began minimizing possessions, I noticed the emptiness of always wanting a bigger house—and I began seeing big houses differently.
As I like to say, “Now I drive by neighborhoods with big houses and think to myself, ‘Who changes the lightbulbs in that thing?’”
Being freed from the unquenchable desire for more, bigger, and better is a wonderful feeling. As is, being separated from constantly comparing my things to others.
All possessions require maintenance. Every lightbulb, plate, shirt, bed, fire alarm, and electronic device require our attention and maintenance.
Do we ever escape that reality? Nope.
Lightbulbs always burn out—sometimes early in the morning.
But the fewer possessions we own, the less we need to maintain. And the more we can focus our attention on the things that matter most.
Judy says
I totally get the the coffee thing! Time to clean up and clear out! Too much junk in my tiny home. You have encouraged me to do a deep cleaning and decluttering. And as I do so, I am going to rejoice that my house is small. I thank God for this maintainable home. Thank you Joshua!!!
Cheryl Powers says
I love this! What a great, fresh perspective. Thanks for your encouraging and supportive writings.
Maryann says
You ask who changes all the lightbulbs in that house. I always think “who cleans all thise bathrooms?”
Kathleen Cuda says
That’s my thought too! Bigger house = more cleaning = Ugh!
Nicola says
I’m with you there. The futility of cleaning a big house strikes me everytime!
Patricia says
Such great timing for this article. My husband is 87, I am 66, we have been married 38 year. He has always been such a huge help to me in keeping the house up. Washing clothes, going to the grocery store, working all around the house etc. He has been diagnosed with dementia and is unable to help me any longer. I have felt so over whelmed lately, Did I mention his 62 year old daughter lives with us due to a stroke 2 1/2 years ago which left her unable to completely care for herself. Well the smoke detectors have started going off in the middle of the night. UGG!! I am so overwhelmed with taking care of everything in this over stuffed house. I need to start decluttering more than I have been since I retired. This article hit me like a ton of bricks. I need way less, so as not to be stressed all the time. Thank you for a great article that hit close to home.
Dawn says
I have lots of strings of lights. I really enjoy them when they have fresh batteries in…..so pretty! I hate it when the batteries need replacing though – so time-consuming and expensive! I have already vowed to start discarding, from now, as each set of batteries wears out.
Milesh Popat says
Thank you for this simple & impactful narration. Yes, nothing is permanent, everything has a shelf life. The more we have, the more we waste our time maintaining them. Many know this secret of less is good, but find it hard to practice, due attractions to materialistic things. I believe if the attraction is diverted to something purposeful, it will be helpful.
John Milligan says
I like the saying: the only people with no problems are no longer with us.
To live is to be solving something. Even if it’s maintaining what you DO have.
Linda says
Well said.
Cindy says
I can see the light ?. I will share. . . I had a big house. BIG HOUSE = BIG BILLS.
Just downsized to less than half the size. Could not be happier. I will say Joshua reading your articles helped with the transition. I and my now late husband, too bought into the Cult while raising our sons that I needed to. We built a large home on 2.50 acres. All I did was work to pay for it all! Less is more. DEFINITELY!
carol says
We bought a house with high ceilings replete with smoke detectors and recessed lights. Now my husband’s gone and I’m afraid of heights. What were we thinking?
Marcos says
Old rule: Less is more.