Guess how I spent my Saturday. Oh, come on now. Guess. Give up?
Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of tossing 5 trash bags full of accumulated clutter and useless items that were out of date, broken, or otherwise taking up valuable space in this not-so-huge house of ours. I've discovered that one of the disadvantages of going back to a full-time year-'round work schedule is that one does not get those long blocks of time off in the summer - the times when I could take on a re-organization project and actually complete it.
How satisfying it is to get rid of excess stuff! Yes, I tend to cling to the preschool teacher's mentality of "Ooooh. That would make a cool...." or "You know, that could be used for..." or "What a great box for storing..." Don't you agree that those wonderful hinged-top boxes that running shoes come in are perfect storage boxes? Built in top...heavy cardboard...
OK. I'll stop now.
Let's just chalk it up to transitions. The kids are re-defining themselves as they gain independence. I am re-defining myself in the sense that I see many of my needs as being "less and less". My mother has had to re-define herself as her 93 year-old body limits what she is able to do, and because I am here, I help her with the "letting go" of her journey. All of this leads to figuring out what we can let go, in order to grow in the direction in which we are heading. All a mentally healthy thing, but it takes time to accommodate all of the fallout of that growth.
Time slips away soooooo quickly.