Drop It

My ongoing mission to rid my life of what doesn't help me (and I use the term "help" broadly, referring also to what does or doesn't make me happy) has kicked up a notch. I borrowed a book on this topic (which I haven't actually started reading yet) and for nearly the past week, I've been looking at items in my home with a more critical eye. Especially because I live alone, there is no reason to have anything around that doesn't serve a useful purpose. I think making me smile is a good purpose, and I have a lot of things around my house that have that power. My suns delight me, as do my trinkets that catch the light that pours into my house for most of the day. When I look at my stuff in this way, it becomes suddenly so much easier to pass on what I don't find beautiful or joyful but other people might.

For me, the problem comes in when I get to my kids' stuff. Much of that I don't find beautiful or joyful, but I have a hard time throwing other people's things away. My mission (when my back heals up a bit) is to at least get their things out of the house into the garage and force them to go through it. If they don't do it within a designated period (which is yet to be determined), I'll donate it. Of course, that doesn't apply to clothing at pictures -- at least not on this round. I have furniture I could sell or donate, books that I'm willing to part with, and other small and large items to sell. Getting rid of these will serve at least two purposes: it will give the items a chance to be useful again for someone who needs them and it will free up space in my house (which I hope not to fill up again).

At the moment, all of this is just a plan, albeit a well-developing plan. I'm doing my best to heal my back without meds or doctor visits. Unfortunately, that means postponing a short trip I was planning to take this weekend. There is just no way I can drive for several hours. It would not serve a useful purpose and there is nothing so important (or beautiful) about my trip that it can't wait a while.