Collect moments not things.
Since moving out and going through a divorce, I’ve been trying to simplify and declutter my life. It hasn’t been easy because ever since I was a child, I’ve gotten attached to “things”. When I was younger I was quite the packrat - hanging on to movie ticket stubs here and there, or keeping items just because of the person who gave it to me. I realize that they are just things, but it still doesn’t make it easy to toss em.
Over time I’ve gotten better about not holding on to items. That’s not saying that I don’t, I’ve just gotten better and the items have gotten fewer. I’m more selective. I don’t keep every birthday card ever given to me, though I do keep some. I occasionally keep concert tickets (but that’s more to include in the scrapbook pages when I finally get around to doing them). But I still have a lot of “stuff” that perhaps I don’t need.
When I “spring clean” I have to go through my stuff slowly. I have found that emotionally it’s easier for me to get rid of things in phases. It’s funny because I really don’t like change. I like to have routine. But once I make big changes or I get rid of items, I always feel so much lighter. I’m not as weighed down. And it’s a GREAT feeling!!! So why don’t I just chuck everything at once? I don’t really know. I guess it’s all a mental game I play against myself. Maybe this go around I’ll try something new and give it all up at once. If it turns out to be too much then next time I’ll know and I’ll chalk it up as a lesson learned.
I’m feeling the need to lighten the load again and reorganize my life in general. It’s time to change things up just a bit and make my home cozy, but not overwhelming. It’s time to make more trips and buy less things. I’ve been trying to make more memories in the last two year and I think I’ve done pretty good, but I also feel like lately I’ve gotten off track. Maybe it’s the sunny weather as Summer approaches. Perhaps it’s realizing that the memories I thought I’d be making are no longer there and it’s time to accept that my life Is heading in a direction so completely unknown to me. I can’t begin to wonder what my future holds because there are so many possibilities. I want to be as ready as I can for the unknown. I know that sounds a bit ridiculous. I guess it just goes back to simplifying. I’m sure that doesn’t make sense to everyone, but it makes sense to me.
I know that memories can still cost money. But I want the memories that don’t cost money, too. I suppose I’m a dreamer in that sense. I want the afternoons in the park, the morning walks where time isn’t important and window shopping or people watching is. I want the trips to places where you walk around grab a bite to eat. I want the road trips to new places. Views from new heights. I want to experience life. I want to make memories. I want stories to tell when I’m old and gray of all the things I did in life. That doesn’t mean I’m going to give up my closet full of shoes. It just means I’m going to cut back on buying new ones. It means buying fewer cds and dvds (which I’ve already cut back on).
Life isn’t about the things you collect, it’s about the friends and family that you surround yourself with and the memories you choose to make with them.
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