Paring Down

We spend the first half of our lives accumulating things and the last half giving them away.

Author Unknown

Several years go, as I was moving into a smaller living space, I rented storage for things I thought I should keep. After a year, I realized I hadn’t looked at or needed anything I was paying to store. I don’t know why it was so hard to let go.

Some of this sudden realization comes with age. Nobody wants great-grandmother’s silver or antique linen. I am in the process of finding a home for a half dozen, old, framed, family photos. Some of them are well over a hundred years old. My son has no desire or place to display them. He would like digital copies! The solution might be relatives that have a large family, so that they will be passed on. At least, that’s what I’m working on.

I am becoming much better at giving away, throwing out, getting rid, of what I no longer need. In some cases, I just enjoy opening a drawer or cabinet that is pared down and well-organized. I like the feeling of accomplishment. The other issue is that I don’t want to leave my son with a lot of stuff he has no idea what to do with. Although, I’m not planning on departing anytime soon, chances that I will live forever are unlikely. To quote my grandmother, “Better now than never.”