The Deeper Meaning of What We Collect
Lately, I've been thinking about the things that we surround ourselves with in life. Almost everyone has certain things that they have an abundance of, and the type of things vary from person to person. Typically, the nature of our things illustrate our values, show what we love and sometimes, broadcast our beliefs about what we think we need to make things better.
It can be an interesting exercise to note what fills your life and reflect on what that says about you. Some of the messages are bound to be obvious. For example, I have a wealth of art supplies, home improvement tools, and movies because these represent activities that bring me joy. Cat toys and scratcher boxes fill our home because we value our feline companions. Organizing devices abound because I always desire to be even more organized to give myself the mental space to enjoy everything else. None of this is a surprise.
And none of it explains the brooms. Or the vacuum cleaners. Or the variety of other sweeping/sucking device that fill my home. Looking at my collection (of vacuum cleaners, hand vacs, traditional brooms, Swiffer sweepers, mini broom-and-dustpan combos, and more) one might suspect that I am a connoisseur of floor cleaning instruments, a collector of these tools. Or that perhaps the repetitive and meditative activity of floor cleaning is a source of contentment for me. Or even that I value a clean floor above all else.
One would, of course, be wrong. Near as I can tell, the issue is that I believe in magic. I believe that if buy enough of these instruments, I'm sure to stumble upon something akin to the broom enchanted by the sorcerer's apprentice in Fantasia. My floors will then become clean without effort, all because I have purchased exactly the right tool.
I know I am not the only one to think this way. I once helped a friend clear out her garage and found an amazing quantity of cleaning supplies. It was like shopping at Target; you name it, she had it. For a while I was a bit distracted; she had the magic sponge I always wanted to try and look! That fancy-pants cleaner they guarantee to remove any stain from porcelain. I felt like I was at some altar of housekeeping and I desperately wanted to grab a sample. But then I thought, wait, this is my friend who I've known for ages. I've never seen her use any of this. I turned to her and asked, "Is the idea that if you have every cleaning supply possible, your home will magically become clean?" "Uh-huh," she nodded. I smiled and nodded in return. I understood.
As I consider my floor-cleaning tool obsession, I reflect that I would probably have less of an issue with my floors if I just allocated a half hour out of each day to clean them. I could use whatever tool was on hand; it wouldn't matter. They'd be spotless! But I don't do this for one good reason: I don't care that much about it. I desire my floors to become clean. I don't desire to clean them.
So much for the idea that the things we collect show what we value and love! It's clear to me that on occasion, they demonstrate how we prefer things would be...without thinking through how it's going to happen. I think this happens when our desire is of a more vague and transitory nature. Our pursuit of a solution becomes likewise. We engage in an almost passive accumulation of potential solutions that never add up to an answer. The good news is that while we're unlikely to get to what we want through this method, it's also unlikely that it's going to cause us any great pain...more like just general discomfort.
What, then, is the answer to the vague and transitory desires that, when acted upon, clutter up our homes? In the case of my friend with the garage full of cleaning supplies, the truth is, she would probably be better served by a bi-weekly housecleaner who brought her own stuff. Then her home would be clean without her involvement and she wouldn't have to store a lot of spray bottles and sponges. In my case? Maybe I would be better with a scheduled system of once-a-week floor cleaning, like it or not, with just a few tools stored in the closet.
Or...maybe what I need is a Roomba. That might do it. Those are those little robot devices that move around on their own, vacuuming up debris. That could be perfect...except for the plush carpet in the living room, of course. I'll still need the Dyson for that. Oh, and Bissell 9400 steam cleaner that I just read about, now that had great reviews and you know I'd never have any more spots if I had one of those. Let me just go check those out and I'll get back to you on this....
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