No matter what you believe about what happens after you die, everyone can agree that you can’t take your “stuff” with you. As we clean out my dad’s apartment it reminds me that so much of his “stuff” is just “stuff”. There are lots of old pictures – those I find valuable because of the sentimental meaning – there were lots of old articles, magazines and papers that had dust on them and hadn’t been read in ages. There were many books: some contemporary and some very old. Many “chachkas” – little knick knacks. Some artifacts from his earlier life when he travelled the world with my mom. We took many of those and split them up among us kids.
So yes, while “stuff” matters, for me most of it has to do with its sentimental value. There are some valuables too. But what is valuable? And what do you do with these things? Keep them, show them, sell them?
We live in a society that values “stuff”, that values “things”. We are told that we do want, should want more, more, more. That what we have is never enough. The wealthier we are the more things we should have and the happier we should be. But do all those things make you richer inside? Do they make you happier? I don’t know about that. And when is enough enough? Is it ever enough?
In the end, when you die, you cannot physically take it with you. It’s impossible. You get buried or cremated or vaulted. But your stuff stays behind. Think about it. How much of my “stuff” really matters? What will happen to it all? How much of your “stuff” and my “stuff” really matters in the end?