Clearing out

I hope someone found the perfect shell I walked past on the beach. I didn't pick it up myself. Nor did I pick up the colorful rock or the broken sand dollar (above) (which also has beauty, as you'll know if you read my first book, "In This Together"). (These book references are my weak attempt at marketing. But if you're interested, the books mentioned in the two most recent posts are available at http://www.capestocanyonspress.com/) (see, there is hope)

It's probably the first time I've left those little treasures to others and there's a reason.

It's time to divest. To unload. To clean out. To lighten up.

I've been collecting over the years. Not just shells and rocks, but pottery and paintings and cards and games and books and old receipts and office supplies and magazines and cassettes and souvenirs and napkins from showers and frames and state quarters and vocal and piano and violin music and little lighthouses and shirts and vases and cute jelly jars and such.

Fortunately, each new house has generally increased in size, so things could accumulate without becoming a safety hazard.

But it's time. Because I'm over 50 and all this stuff is making me feel heavy and causing me to wonder what my children would do if they inherited it, which wouldn't be pretty.

I have a hard time clearing things out for a number of reasons.

1. I remember where I got them.

2. I remember when I shared them with my children.

3. They're cute.

4. Someone gave them to me.

5. Someone might want them.

6. I'll need them as soon as I give them away.

The first thing to go were the signatures from my first book -- the proofs before printing began, which had been rolled up for 12 years and 2 moves because someday I might want to look at them again. Or maybe someone else might want to. But 12 years proved me wrong.

So now they're in the recycle bin, where they hopefully will remain until Monday when the recycle truck comes by.

Not everything that heads towards the door actually makes it out.

But my newfound resolve, which will be accomplished in baby steps over years, baby steps like not picking up a new shell and not holding on to something that has not been needed forever, will be possible if I just tell myself:

1. Clearing my house will clear my head.

2. Giving to charity will help someone have something they might not otherwise afford.

3.

4.

5.

6.

It would help if someone out there could think of a few more reasons to balance out the ones for hanging on. I'm still a little weak in the knees about it all...