Recent surveys show that western society has a problem with possessions.
In fact a large majority of British (79 per cent) and Australian (88 per cent) residents admit to hoarding items they will rarely, or never, use and in the USA, it is estimated that 80 per cent of all stored possessions are never utilised.
Although a large number of items are kept for sentimental reasons, many other possessions remain untouched for years because they are saved for those rare “special occasions”.
Gary Douglas is an internationally renowned thought-leader and personal development speaker. He believes it is counterintuitive to have one’s most prized possessions locked away out of sight.
“What are you waiting for? Life itself is a special occasion,” he says.
A collector of fine art and antiques, Douglas understands the hesitancy to overuse expensive or beloved items
“I went to Hong Kong and bought the most expensive piece of clothing I’ve ever owned; a $9000 jacket. I love it. It’s exquisite and I wear it once in a while because I can’t stand that I might wear it out,” he admits.
“(But) my point of view is, if you’ve got it, use it or get rid of it. Your life could end tomorrow; if you wake up in the morning, it’s a special occasion. If you realised your life was a special occasion, you would not be waiting for a special occasion to occur.”
His three top tips for those with unused items:
Most importantly, Douglas would love people to appreciate that every day you’re alive is a special day.