There’s no point in keeping something for later use, especially if it’s a one-off. When I went to Japan, I brought back some sakura mochi. It was a good and unique treat, so I wanted to “save” them. Eventually, they went bad. I only ate about half. From this, my biggest lesson learned – use things as soon as possible. There’s no point in having anything unless it’s getting used in some way. An expensive painting kept under your bed or in a closet for no one to see but for it to be kept safe because of how nice it is misses the point. The value is in it’s use, which may lead to it’s demise but all the better. I’m not saying to be careless and disrespectful, also, sure, some things should be made to last after our death. Then again, if you can’t enjoy it to it’s fullest purpose, why have it? If you say it’s an investment, will you ever realize the gains?
Especially now, in the age of over abundance, keeping a nice shirt nice at the expense of doing what you want is only harm to you. Don’t wear a nice shirt to go hunting in the mud, that’s just stupid. But if you’re at a wedding and you won’t dance or have fun so the shirt would get ruined, that’s when it’s an issue. This assumes you’re not so totally broke that you have one nice shirt and can’t afford another without the rent being paid.
Buy nice things and use them. Otherwise we or the things expire. My rule is that when I go through all my stuff under my bed or my closet, I ask myself if I’ve used it in the past year. If not, how can I start using it now? Sometimes there’s nothing I can do with it, so I throw it away or donate it. It’s been out of sight and of no use for so long.
There are some keepsakes that have their place under my bed, such as all the letters/cards I got when I was injured. I keep these and similar good-memory type items because I have space under my bed for them and it doesn’t actually hurt me to keep them. Though, as soon as I move and need to start compromising what to bring and what to leave, anything non-functional is left behind.
My advice: buy that expensive whiskey, bring home whacky foods from traveling, get that high quality jewelry, bring a beautiful new painting into your home, but don’t ever “save” it for a special occasion. Don’t deny yourself a pleasure for that “special moment.” Wear the jewelry daily until it breaks, invite friends for no reason other than to try that food or drink. Let the painting get sun bleached because it looks nice in your room when the sunlight hits it just right. Break things. Wear them down. Die with nothing unused.
Wheelchair DNA 