Comedian Carlin’s routines showed how we can change

Yes, I am talking about George Carlin. Whether you liked him or not, I think most of us will admit, he was a great satirist. Carlin was not afraid to push the limit, to make us laugh and make us look inside at the same time.

I think if we pay heed to what he was trying to say, we can all live a little better, a little fuller, a little more honestly.

One of my favorites of all his “bits” is “A Place for My Stuff.” He knew how to gnaw at our relentless consumerism. He knew how to make us question our choices.

“A house is just a place to hold your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.”

How often have we fallen into the pattern of the gathering of “stuff,” shopping to fill emotional needs, responding to ads or keeping up with the neighbors?

The problem with “stuff” collecting is two-fold. First, it is a temporary fix. It usually doesn’t make us feel good for long. Second, it adds up! And then we are left with what we all resent. Piles of “stuff.” Things we own that really own us.

I think Carlin was trying to ask us to look in, to look deeper than gathering “things.”

What if we decided to think twice about filling our worlds with “stuff?” What if we decided to buy less and let go more? What if our homes weren’t just places to “hold our stuff” while we went out in search of more? What if we decided that less stuff made us feel more fulfilled? What if?

This week, whether you were a George Carlin fan or not, consider asking yourself to consider your “stuff.” Make sure you have what you need and love what you have without it owning you.

2-minute tips for letting go
Purge every day. We get good at what we practice over and over. Practice the art of letting go of things every day. Look around your world and ask yourself, “What can I let go of today?”

Question. Carlin was about questioning the way we live our lives. Question your motives when you bring in more stuff. In many ways, I think Carlin was frustrated with the “numbness” of consumerism. This is not about being a hermit on the mountain peak. It’s about being connected to what you are doing, how you are living.

Enjoy and remember to make the moment happen!