Today’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday is from Lin Yutang:
Have you ever known a pack rat? Are you the pack rat? The person who just cannot throw anything away? As such the garage, the storage room, the extra bedroom, or the closet overflows with all of your things. Not just anything, but things. Things that are no longer usable but take up space. This quote reminds me of that.
Anything in life that cannot be used for the benefit of moving forward is a non-essential and is just taking up space. If I cannot make use of this computer, if it is broken and it has proven to go beyond restoration, then it is no use to me. It must be undone. Left alone. I try to look at life in terms of value and quality. Anything that I add to my personal space: relationships, writing, goals, friendships, and even blogging, if it does not assist me in some way, does not add value to my life in some way, then it must be left undone. It is a non-essential. I cannot use it.
The Point of it all? Learn to do away with anything that no longer grows you.
Lin Yutang (October 10, 1895 – March 26, 1976) was a Chinese writer, translator, linguist and inventor. His informal but polished style in both Chinese and English made him one of the most influential writers of his generation, and his compilations and translations of classic Chinese text into English were bestsellers in the West.
Don’t forget to join us every week for Writer’s Quote Wednesday, Hosted by Silver Threading.
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Beautiful, wise quote. Thank you. Good reminder.
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I love this quote! I am a rather Zen person… less is more. I so agree with the quote and getting rid of things! Thank you so much for sharing about this author, Lin Yutang. He is a new one for me. ❤
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I like the quote very much – not doing things, not trying to fix everything is often the hardest part of living – esp. with relationship with other people.
Also I agree non essentials in one’s mental and emotion life can be kept to a low, however it is important that, even if one cannot do anything oneself about an affair or incident or world event, one doesn’t shrug and not concern oneself with it – minimilism can, if taken to extremes, . lead to a lack of care and diminished humanity. I have witnessed this myself.
I am the expert pack rat – from a long and strong ancestral line of pack rats:) although to an extent I agree that hoarding for the sake of, or in my case often idleness! some pack rat-edness is good. I inherited all the ‘clutter’ of ancestors writings, certificates, photos, musings etc – (they should have disposed of them) – and have from them a good sense of who, what, and why I am – they have given me inspiration and good lessons. And that includes broken things as well (not all of them I grant:)- I think it is too late for me, to clear the clutter – I have clutter therefore I am:)
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Uh oh…pack rat in the house!! 🙂
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🙂
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