In 2006 I went through a horrible divorce. As my ex and I divvied up what had amounted to our life together I was thinking [and feeling] the loss of my life more than that of any belongings.
I had accumulated a lot of stuff in the 8-years he and I were married, but I didn’t struggle too much cutting the fat. I got what was important; my kids [which were mine to begin with] and my dog AnnieBananie [who after 10-years, sadly, I no longer have]. The rest of it really didn’t matter that much and I opted to leave many things — like dishes and furniture, behind.
A year later however, I found myself in a position of having to downsize further in order to care for my ailing mom. Some things went into storage, while others were sold or donated. A year beyond that I had to further detach and let go when I lost what I had in storage. A year later and I was even lighter of load and so on.
It’s Just Things
Image Source: seuss.wikia.com
At first, it was really hard. Each time it was hard, but as I continued to downsize I began to simplify my life. All of a sudden I had less things to worry about. And that’s just it, they were only things. Sure, there were some things I wish I had not of let go of or lost along the way, but in the end it has actually better enabled me to do what I do.
Write…for a living, and, I can do it from anywhere [providing there’s an internet connection].
Today, everything I own can fit into a single bedroom. When it comes to physical clutter, my life is free of it. I am still working on the mental and emotional clutter, but sometimes junk is subjective.
Here is my favorite “Junk” to share…
How about you? Have you cleared the clutter?
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Great post! You’ve come a long way. Simplifying pays dividends. A great example of “less is more.”
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Thanks. Yes, it has been quite the journey for sure!
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Very smart Cheri, start with the physical and whittle away to the essentials. Thanks for revealing this profound truth: the less clutter you possess on every level, the lighter your being. Perhaps that what spirituality is all about, knowing yourself experientially midst living thru heavy existence (physical 3D realm on a construct called Earth). Enjoy letting go and be freee…..
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