Some people the older they grow they lose interest in material things ?

Question

I know an old man who had a hobby of collecting stamps and tiny toy cars since youn days, and has more than 20.000 stamps and 5000 tiny toy cars. one day he had taken all of it, stuffed them into garbage bags and dumped them in the rubbish bin.

when i asked him why he did it, this is what he told me,

How long can go on collecting this muck and for what purpose? i am now old and the only thing left for me is death. i dont need stamps or toy cars.

Does he have a point?

Answer 1

In a word, "yes" (he does have a point).

I'm not sure that I'd conclude that he was depressed or that he suffered some significant event that triggered the tossing outof the stamps and cars ... his decision seemed more the result of reflection over a period of time.

As strange as this may come across, I interpreted his behavior as "enlightening," that is, over time he was able to confidently and comfortably jettison those very things that he [falsely] believed were important.  When he "stuffed them into garbage bags and dumped them in the rubbish bin," in my view, he was free.

I'd also like to provide an alternative perspective to the suggestion that he could/should have sold them, donated them, or simply given them to another for a legacy of sorts.  As much as that makes sense from a conventional point-of-view, it doesn't make sense from the enlightened/free vantage.  

That is, by literally destroying the thousands of items he collected he was saying to himself -and others- I'm free to be myself now ... a man without artifacts ... without meaningless representations that, for years came to identify his persona -but not him.  He was saying he was free to now live and emphasized that point by saying "the only thing left for [him] is death."

The destroying of what many would consider a "treasure trove" was the only fitting act for him to prove (to himself) his enlightenment and, simultaneously, his emancipation from his collection.  

At the same time, his decision to not "pass the collection" along for either money, posterity, or other quasi-benevolent purposes, solidifies his position that the collection was more of an albatross that prevented him from a full (or fuller) life and, as such, he was not about to bequeath the same burden to another.  

Answer 2

As my nickname says I am an oldie and I have lost interest in a lot of things. I am more interested in non-material things like walks with my wife and stroking my cat.

We cannot take anything material with us when we die.

Answer 3

It sounds like he's suffering from a type of depression. While many of us, regardless of age, do not value material things nearly as much as hobby collectors and the average American, a sudden throw away of these habits and values signals a significant change in personality, something that often comes with depression. Then again, maybe it took him that long to make the realization that 'stuff' is not really that important and this realization is leading to his sense of lose and desire for meaning in life. His lack of purpose and talk about death may be one of those phases that plenty of us go through when the realization that what we thought mattered does not matter, or at least not to the same extent. (EDIT: in response to a previous answerer, he could have been forced to sell these things for financial reasons and may have made that comment out of frustration and loss of his valued collection)

To answer your question basically, he does have a point, but I do not find it that significant in the 'grand scheme of things' although on the personal level, it is something worth paying attention to.

Answer 4

It's a dramatically made point, but yes. He could have given the toys to charity who could have auctioned them off for money.

Answer 5

As one becomes older,sometimes, they realize the value in life, a little too late.  All the things one strives to have, has really been pointless.

All your life you think this is why you are here; to get ahead, to pay the bills to have a bigger house, to move in the suburbs, more money, more power, more, more, more.

Then one day, you look at all the "things" you have acquired and realize for what purpose do they serve?  What have I truly done with my life, that has made a difference?  All this time, all of my life, I have been chasing after all 'the "wrong" stuff'!

Now that my life is almost over, I see.  The 'stuff' is insignificant!  It actually makes you sick to look at it!

What have I truly done with my life that is "significant?  If only I could go back with the knowledge I have now.  I could make a difference!  

But life doesn't work this way!  And even if it did, I would be the same foolish person I was once before!   This is a proven fact of life!  :0

Answer 6

You mean you don't win if you die with the most toys???  Rats, now i need a new goal in life.

Answer 7

depends on person to person.

Answer 8

Well, yes, he does have a point but the bigger question is what happened to him, what changed.....obviously, this was his hobby for a long time. He was perfectly happy with his collections....it made him content.  Perhaps it  reminded him of his childhood....this kept him feeling youthful and maybe it was a source of entertainment.......but there was a shift in his thinking...again, why?

Of course, we are all going to die some day.....and while some may die young, most of us will get old......some faster than others......if we take care of ourselves, that may prolong the process.......some times years of struggle and a hard life can cause one to deteriorate faster.....a person who is negative and nasty might go through life alone and disgruntled....causing misery to those around them because they are miserable themselves.......some people keep themselves young by doing what they love......being happy and thinking positive no matter what.......its true, we cannot take money or things with us when we die......and when we die all that is left is a shell....but how about our spirit......we do take that so if collecting stamps and tiny toys brought joy to his spirit there was no need to throw them away.....if he no longer wanted them he could have found joy in donating them to a children's museum or to someone who would have enjoyed them as much as he did.....how ever corny this may seem, in sense, he could have lived on forever...through the spirit of bringing joy to someone else.