We
spent the past two weekends moving into a new home. And, although the
only two words that come to mind right now are "never" and
"again", I know all too well never to say never. So for now I'm
just happy that it's over and that we're able to, for the first time in seven
months, actually see and use our own stuff instead of searching for it in a never-ending maze
of boxes.
Will
and I have moved around a lot since getting married, and, although
moving is never easy or fun, I must say that this time it was ... different. Can
it be that, after learning the same old lesson way too many times, it has finally
stuck? I sure hope so, because this is one lesson that I really want to make my own.
Three
or so moves ago (I told you there were many), I started getting really edgy
about all our stuff: Kitchen
appliances that we never used; clothes that we never wore; books that we never read. It
was suffocating. And so we started clearing out, throwing away and donating; giving away, selling and saying goodbye. And it felt good; the more we gave away, the better
it felt.
 |
| Where it all began: Way too much stuff. |
Until
we realised, during our next move, that we'd somehow managed to accumulate
stuff again (hello, all the new baby stuff!). Sigh.
And again during our next move. Would we ever learn?
But
this time, for the first time ever, I noticed an improvement: No new, unused
appliances; no unworn clothes; no unread books. Ahhhhhh. No
useless gadgets; fancy gizmos or dust-gathering ornaments. Our new cupboards aren't
brimming with stuff just for the
sake of having stuff - we
literally only have what is needed in our home. And I love it. I feel free.
I
even managed to part with not one, but three old pairs of running shoes this time... And I must confess that it was hard. (Why are running shoes so much like good old friends? Is it the same for guys and their ragged old PT shorts? Because then I completely understand.) But I'm determined to start living what I've suspected and believed all along: That good memories are worth far more and are far better to hold on to than things.
 |
| Bye-bye shoesies - thanks for the (s)miles! |
So here's to a future filled with a lot less stuff and a lot more good memories - because that's the life I ultimately want.
* * *
Go have a peep at my interview on fellow SA mama blogger, Lindsay-Leigh's blog "What happened to my body?" here - lots of tips for new mama runners!
Bye!
I must admit moving is one of the worst things for me. I have been in my current home 9 years now and hope I stay here for ever. Feeling free is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Johann. The place that we have now is pretty perfect for us, but since we're only renting, there potentially is another move in our (hopefully very distant) future... Not ready to even think about that any time soon, though!
DeleteYay for progress and lessons learned :). Running shoes ARE so hard to part with! I had grocery bags full of shoes I wore in high school up until about a year ago. And even though they were way past there prime, they were so hard to say bye to! But it's so true, it's the memories that matter, not our beloved shoes. I'm so glad you're enjoying your time in your new home with not so much stuff laying around! I feel like a have a whole new room when I go through and get rid of things, so I'm sure it's an even more freeing feeling with a whole home! :)
ReplyDeleteMy cousin and I spoke about it this week, Hailey, and I think it's because of all the shared pain and suffering that we find it so hard to say goodbye to old running shoes - they're like our comrades in battle, haha!
DeleteMy heart feels soooo light when I open our new cupboards and all I see is open space and stuff we use everyday - LOVE it! :)
I know what you mean Karien. I've lived in my current home for 37 years and unless I know folk really well I'm embarrassed to invite them in because of all the clutter. I hate to part with anything, especially books. Amongst many others on a variety of subjects I've just counted 76 running books. There are more on my Kindle. Don't ask how many pairs of trainers I've got. I recently bought a new computer, but still have the old one with all its accoutrements. It's almost got to the stage where, if I buy anything new, there's nowhere to put it. Drawers and cupboards are so full they wont shut. Worse still, as I get older, I can't remember where the heck things are.
ReplyDeleteSo well done you, just pray you never get to my stage in life.......
I'm so sick of hoarding that I've become quite reckless with throwing stuff out, Gordon. I find that if I think too much about it, I tend to want to keep things. Let's hope my recklessness stays until I'm 100! :)
DeleteI think if we moved I would be getting rid of a lot of things too. Running shoes are hard to get rid of. They went all those miles with you, all the sweat and the tear and the happiness. My husband is always trying to get me to throw some away, every now and then I indulge him. It's just so hard!
ReplyDeleteSo true, Christy - running shoes really are just like good old friends! But I try to donate mine, so the fact that they might still give someone else a few happy miles makes it easier.
DeleteI'm in the process of getting ready to move now, and you're so right -- it feels so good to be free from all that stuff! I'm going to try to keep as minimalist an attitude as possible going forward.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Lisa. Good luck for your big move and the brand new beginning - so exciting!!
DeleteWe are in the process of selling our flat and I really should make a start on the packing soon...not looking forward to that bit atall!!
ReplyDeleteAw, good luck with the move! Never easy or fun, but the new chapter in a new home is always something to look forward to!
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