I believe most of us have too much stuff in our lives.

You know what I mean. It’s all that stuff we accumulate over the years that fills in the spaces in a shelf — the stash we buy when on a vacation somewhere; the old clothes that fill our chest of drawers, and all the little items we buy just to have. The thoughts are nice at the time of accumulation, but over time, it all becomes too much and becomes just stuff.

I have a family member who is trying to pare down — at least that’s what she tells me. However, when I visit her, the same stuff is still sitting right where it was the last time I visited her. Of course, she has a myriad of excuses why the stuff still sits in her place, and I understand it’s difficult to let loose of some things. But there’s a time for everything, and it’s time.

As I write this, it suddenly dawns on me that I have a stash of empty wine bottles sitting in the closet. Why are they there? I justify them by saying I will use them in an article, and by smelling the empty bottle, I’ll remember the scent of the wine.

Allow me to list the empty bottles: Tortoise Creek Zinfandel, Fünf Riesling, a Sicilian Inzolia, a Polish Kijafa, a Sicilian Grillo and a Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay.

So what do those bottles mean to me? They all tell stories. The bottles tell me what I’ve tasted (Many of them more than once, I must confess!); they remind me of the areas from which they grew and were produced and they tell me to keep on searching because there’s a whole lot of goodness out there.

I’ve attended a number of conferences over the years, and I always look for the vendor who is giving away a little pad of paper. Apparently, I have a fixation with pads of paper, I’m not sure why. Maybe little writing pads where hard to get when I was growing up? Maybe I just like to have a pad with me so I can write down my awesome mental ruminations — maybe, but that’s questionable.

So what happens? I have a lot of pads stuffed into multiple drawers around the place, and, perhaps, I should take my own advice. If there’s a time for everything maybe it’s time to share these notepads with others. We’ll see how much strength I have for this situation!

I possess a pair of old jeans that have a hole in one knee. Should I wear these old jeans or is it time to get rid of such stuff? I can see some of you shaking your heads affirmatively — yes, get rid of them. And I’m sure there are those of you out there who are thinking that if it’s just one hole, there’s still more life to be lived in them.

My thoughts on the old jeans follow this line of reasoning. It seems fashionable for certain people to wear jeans with legs that are shredded and full of holes, right? Therefore, if it’s fashionable for them to wear such jeans, why can’t I wear a pair of jeans with just one hole? My old jean friend is not stuff yet.

I possess quite a library of books. Some of them have been with me for years and those will stay with me. However, I’ve learned that not all books are collection items, and although it bothers me a bit to give away a book, many of them have been let go. I rationalize the letting go by saying someone else will now have the opportunity to enjoy the book.

Besides, then I have another space to fill on my book shelf, and I get to fill that empty spot with a new book. Books are never stuff. They are treasures.

Yes, there’s a lot in our lives that need to be shared with others – including all our stuff. But hang on to those friends and good bottles of wine. They are too precious to not have around you.

So, set a time to meet some friends, have a glass of wine, beer or a cocktail and, chat.

By the way, I’ll wear my holey jeans until…?

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!