Some people tend to complain. A lot. In fact some people complain so much that every word that comes out of their mouth is in some way expressing their annoyance with the way things happen to be at the moment. Perhaps you know someone like that. They complain because they are running late for work, or that some how they are being taken advantage of. They complain about the weather. Comments like It is just too hot, It is freezing out here, or The last thing we need is more rain, abound in small talk conversations everywhere. People complain when their favorite football team misses a touchdown. Children complain when their parents do not buy them a toy or snack in the grocery store line, while the parents complain that they have spent too much money already and so they can not afford it. If this sounds like a complaint, well, perhaps it is. It is disheartening to note that we routinely hear so many people talk about not having enough money, time or patience, and yet we usually all have an abundance of things, ideas and observations to show for our lack of money, time and patience. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why an industry that rent self storage bins is so prevalent in our society today.

Think about it. It takes money to buy things, so in order for people to have an abundance of things to store in self storage bins to make room for more things, they must have had money at some point in time to purchase all of the things that they no longer use and want to store away. Also, it seems logical that having more of anything than one could possibly need or use is a blessing of abundance, and not something to complain about. Yet some people do complain, even while they are putting their abundance of material goods in self storage bins so that they can make room for more abundance.

When viewed from the perspective that each and every moment is a blessing and has something to teach us, our perception is expanded to include the knowledge gained. This is our journey, and where ever it takes us is no reason to complain. If it is hot outside, so be it. It is hot. No need to be angry or bitter about it, for if the sun did not rise tomorrow we would all perish. We tend to take for granted all of the millions of miracles that we are surrounded by every minute of every day, including the miracle that we have the consciousness to even be aware of such experiences.

Just for a moment, stop and reflect upon all of the ideas, notions and observations that you have ever experienced in your life. How many years have you been alive on this planet? No doubt that it has been an amazing journey, no matter where you have been or what hand you have been dealt. You are alive and you have lived to tell your story. Every single item that a person or family stores inside of boxes contained safely within self storage bins has a history, a conversation that could be had about it and some kind of story attached to it. Imagine a circa 1970s ceramic lamp portraying sculpted grapevines and children? Whose was it? Where did they get it? How in the world did you end up with it? These are the moments of your life, packed away, but not gone forever.

So, when lifes abundance requires the use of self storage bins to hold it all, see it as the joyous occasion that it is. It is an opportunity to go through your things, relive and perhaps retell your story and evaluate with love the journey that you have taken. This sounds and feels much nicer than the energy draining chore that most people make it out to be. You will find that by simply changing your mind about something your experience will change along with it. Let the process be an awakening of sorts, or even a new beginning. For it is true that when you make space in your life for new opportunity, it will come knocking.

So, you have decided to utilize the convenience of self storage bins to protect and to store some of the material manifestations of your lifes journey? Excellent choice. Self storage bins can be a super convenient option to use as a temporary holding pen when your life is so abundant that you can barely walk through it without tripping over something. Storing your items in self storage bins shows that you care enough about something to protect it, other wise you may as well just give it away to someone else. If it means anything at all to you, it is important to pack it up with care to avoid finding casualties later on when you open a box of your Grandmothers collection of dolphin statues or your Mothers inherited china. Not to mention that awesome ceramic grapevine lamp.

Here are some tips to make your packing process easier.

When packing up kitchen articles and appliances, always make sure that they are well cleaned before you go storing them. Crusty, dried on food residue that may be left behind on the blender base or stuck to the roof of the microwave will inevitably attract unwanted critters into self storage bins. Clean your small appliances well, wrap any fragile pieces in thick, puffy bubble wrap and tape it securely. Pack kitchen boxes lightly. Dropping a heavy box labeled kitchen almost always results in breakage and usually a few well placed expletives.

Books are wonderful to read and own, as they reflect the thoughts and imaginations of amazing and contemplative minds from all over the world. We love to read other peoples stories, because it gives us insight into our own lives, and each in a different way. Being a collector of books is a noble endeavor, especially if you are an unintentional collector. This signifies that you read for the sheer joy of the experience, and that you do not buy a book unless you intend to read it cover to cover. Since no one wants to throw away someone elses hard work and mental effort, it is good to know that books can be safely stored in self storage bins without incident, to make room on your book shelf for new reads. When packing books, lay them flat. This keeps the spines from being damaged. Also, pack books in smaller boxes, just a couple or three rows deep. Fill the remaining space in the box with lightweight items such as pillows, towels or other fluffy stuff.

When storing clothing and other garments in self storage bins , it is a good idea to use wardrobe boxes if at all possible. These boxes are large, sturdy, and they are designed to allow you to hang clothing from a metal bar at the top of the box, while shoes and other accessories can be neatly stored at the bottom. If you can not obtain wardrobe boxes, then please, by all means, do not just stuff all of your clothing into plastic trash bags. Trash bags are thin, they rip and tear as soon as a piece of the plastic catches on something even remotely pointy, which almost always happens, and at the worst possible time, leaving your clothing exposed and spilling out all over the place. Do, however, neatly fold your garments and place them in plastic containers, tubs or cardboard boxes. Throw a few moth balls in, both before and after your packing of the box to keep the winged eaters away, and then make sure to tape the box securely shut.

If you are taking mirrors or framed pictures to your self storage bins for safe keeping, be extra gentle in the way that you pack them. There are special mirror and picture boxes that stand upright and tall that you can purchase at some facilities and packing stores. You never want to lay your breakable mirrors and framed pictures flat in a box. They are too easily broken that way. Instead, acquire some brown paper sacks, wrap the pictures in the paper sacks first, followed by thick and poofy bubble wrapping and tape it securely. You may then store the pictures upright in a mirror box or in a tall, shallow box. Pack lightly, as you do not want to drop this one. Mark this box FRAGILE in humongous red letters and set it off to the side of the self storage bins , preferably up against a flat wall.

Tape long handled tools, such as shovels, rakes and hoes together with box tape to keep them from jostling too much. You can stand them upright as long as they are held securely in place by other boxes, or you may lay them flat up against a wall. Box up smaller tools such as screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches, but be careful not to pack too many in one box as tools can become heavy quite quickly. Shop rags are a good thing to pack in boxes of tools, simply because they are lightweight. You can rent self storage bins that are roomy enough that you do not have to worry about having lots of smaller boxes. Small boxes are easier to pack, and way easier on your back.

When storing rugs in self storage bins , always vacuum the rug first. Make sure that there is no crusty food or spilled smoothie anywhere on the top or bottom of the rug. You do not want mice nibbling on your antique Persian. Once the rug has been vacuumed and cleaned, roll it up tightly and secure it at both ends and in the middle with strong tape. Rugs are heavy. Be smart, save your muscles from injury, and get help when attempting to move heavy rugs in and out of self storage bins .

Lamps can be awkward items to pack and store in self storage bins . Sometimes the self storage bins themselves can be filled to capacity and lamps tend to be the type of article that does not have a distinct boxy shape to it. Some lamps, however, are small enough that you can disassemble the base from the shade and pack the two halves in two separate boxes. Use pillows, towels, or big thick bubble wrap to smash down in to the empty spaces in the box. If you have a floor lamp that can not be disassembled, you can detach any glass shades and securely pack those in a small box, keeping the box of shades close by the lamp itself once inside the self storage bins . If you have a lamp that just will not fit into any type or size of box, you can find a number of pillows and secure the pillows around the lamp base with sturdy box tape. Just be sure that everyone who is assisting you with the move knows what that big marshmellowy thing in the corner is, by taping a large label to it to finish the process.

When storing beds, always try to obtain large mattress and box spring bags. Rodents love to burrow, and if one happens to get inside of your unit, a box spring or mattress makes a very comfortable nesting place for a family of mice. Placing your mattresses and box springs inside of sealed plastic bags before they go into the self storage bins keeps them protected from critters as well as from moisture in the air that could cause mildewing. These bags are inexpensive and can save you a bundle. Mattress bags are one of those simple things that may seem like an inconvenience at the time of the move, but well worth it when you consider the potential cost of losing the set altogether to damage inflicted by mildew or mice. It is helpful to tape bed rails and wooden slats together with box tape, as well. This keeps them relatively secure and easily accessible. Any nuts, bolts or small metal pieces should be placed in a zipper lock bag and taped securely to the headboard. Store mattresses and box springs close to the wall and in an upright position with headboards, foot boards, slats and rails close by.

When storing tables in self storage bins , disassemble the legs from the table when ever possible. Wrap the legs in paper and tape them together securely. Any nuts and bolts or other small hardware should be bagged up and taped securely to the underside of the table. Wrap the table top in a big, thick, industrial blanket or pad, and store the table top on its side, taking care to put some padding directly underneath the side that is on the concrete flooring. Do not lay tables flat, as this could warp the wood over time. Chairs should be stored with one upright on its feet and another turned upside down on top of the first one. If this is not possible, then place the chairs all upright, cover each one with a sheet and place other small boxes and items in the seat of the chair to maximize your space. You can wrap the legs of your chairs in paper if you are worried about scratches.

If you are storing large appliances in self storage bins , for example a refrigerator, it is very important to thoroughly clean out the inside of the appliance, drain any and all water from ice makers and such and leave the doors of the appliance slightly ajar once they are inside of the self storage bins . Place a box of baking soda inside of the unit, opened at one end, to further eliminate moisture.

Even in climate controlled units, dust will inevitably become a factor when storing in self storage bins . For this reason, it is a worthwhile idea to purchase or otherwise obtain some large, heavy drop cloths. If you already posses some old bed sheets that you do not mind using, those will suffice. Once you have everything packed up and are just about ready to close the door and lock it up, stop and throw several of these bed sheets or drop cloths over the contents of your self storage bins to keep the dust off. The material is breathable and will not contribute to the build up of moisture, but it will protect your belongings from accumulating too much dust over the course of months or even years. It is advisable that you periodically visit your unit, whether it is to add to it, take from it, or just to check and make sure it is all still in good condition. When you visit, gently remove and thoroughly shake out these cloths to remove the dust before replacing them again.

When some of the stuff of your life has been evaluated, labeled and put aside for a while, be joyful. You have just opened yourself up to receiving even more abundance. Perhaps in the form of friendships, opportunities or even just more cool stuff. Regardless of what may unfold, accept it with gratitude, enjoy it with graciousness, and remember that life is meant to be savored, honored and shared.