Learning to Let Go

Sometimes to go forward on a journey you have to go back and that is what I did yesterday. After living in the same house for twenty one years, I have accumulated a lot of stuff.  In the past, as soon as I get rid of something, I need it again.  In fact, in order to not have to retake a Life Science class when I was getting my teaching certificate, I had to prove that another class that I had taken met those requirements.  I needed to have a copy of the syllabus and a copy of the table of contents of the book that we had read for the course.  Because I had those things (from a class I had taken years ago) I was able to get credit and save money too!  I used this as a reason to keep the many course notebooks of my many classes over the years, as well as the fact that there was lots of great information in those books. Unfortunately, I didn't often consult them when I needed information on the subjects that were in them.  So yesterday was the day to go back through those notebooks (that I hadn't looked at in years) and get rid of them.  I just kept reminding myself that most of the information was on the internet anyway and that methods have changed over the years.  What do I do when I want to research information about a specific topic?  I look online, ask a colleague, or look in a book that has the latest research. 

I filled our recycling bin with papers that had been collected over the years and filled five bags that will go to the Goodwill.  For me, knowing where to start actually starting was the hardest thing.   I started by making a goal.  My goal is to have a small area where I can do a craft or make a card and not have to set it up and take it down.  My inspiration came from a Better Homes and Gardens article.  I decided that area will be in a large walk-in closet that I have upstairs.  When I began, the closet was stuffed with things like games (three backgammon sets...really?!?!), craft supplies, toys the kids had when they were little, costumes, gift wrap, and a number of other random things like a bag of old neckties that I was sure I could recycle into some cool thing.  

To make room for my new area, I needed to find places for some of the things that I did want to keep in that closet so I started by cleaning out the closet in the guest bedroom.  Goodbye notebooks, plan books, old clothes (if I haven't worn that dress in years because it is too long, I will never wear it, even if it is cute and I SHOULD just hem it up), and random toys.  I made a small dent in the things that I need to get rid of (mind you my things are stored neatly in closets and you can walk through our house!) and am going to keep at it so that my children do not have to do this later :-).  Now, my guests who are coming to town for my son's wedding (hooray!) will actually have a place to hang their clothes and my craft area is beginning to take shape!  By looking back at items of the past and deciding what to do with them, I am now able move on to new opportunities.  Oh by the way, I did keep the big stuffed Ninja turtle.  It will make a good wedding present don'tcha think?!?!