Origin story

 

I don’t know about you, but I have helped my parent go through the process of sorting out their life‘s possessions and winnowing them down.  A large three bedroom house’s worth of stuff was squeezed into a bedroom/sitting room.  In the process, I have acquired a number of things which I have sentimental value, but left my own home bursting at the seams.   

Now I’m faced with an empty nest, and I want to be mindful about all that I have acquired.  It’s really important to me to reduce the accumulation of things, while continuing to build memorable experiences.  Most of the items are imbued with some level of “what was” or “what might have been.”  I feel the need to both honor and celebrate, but also to acknowledge where the potential or utility of some thing no longer exists for me.

Of course there is that terrifying possibility that after I give up something, either by selling it or giving it away -  or in extreme cases,  just throwing it away – I will suddenly realize that I have made a horrible mistake and wish with all my heart that I still had that thing.

Alas.  It needs to happen. Less is more. And I am drowning in stuff right now.

So this is the illustrated story of some of my junk and how I am getting rid of it. You know the expression “take a picture, it lasts longer.”  That’s what I’m doing, instead of continuing to just look at the piles of “treasure” i’ve been hoarding.  less you worry that my children will be saddened by this jettisoning process, don’t give it another moment’s thought.  I’m in constant communication to consult and make sure that they’re fine with every step of my process to lighten the load. I’m giving them a chance to claim all items before they’re released into other hands.