Material Baggage

John Quincy Adams once said, "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."

I am waiting for another door to open - this one will be attached to my future abode.

Trying to schedule time to view homes/apartments, as well as budget accordingly is not an easy task. I finally let go of the reins and asked the egyptian to step up and help out with this feat. Too much territory to cover, and we do not want to put all of our eggs in one basket.

I am really starting to get the fever to REALLY get this show on the road. I walked past a furniture store yesterday around lunchtime, and I could not take my eyes off of this funky chaise. It was red and curvy and velvety. I thought to myself, "Hey... now THAT could look really cool in our new home."

I am so on board for a new start, that I am seriously considering starting from scratch, outside of a few paintings and kitchenware. I just want us to start fresh, and I want to do it together.

If you are settled in your home, you know the comfort and security of being around your "things." If you have ever lost everything, then you know what I am talking about. I have learned to release my materials items, and I appreciate smaller things now. The whole idea around simplifying has taken on a whole new meaning.

As I ponder the whole idea of letting go, I got some great advice over at The Minimalist website.

I found one section of their advice so powerful:

Lessons Learned



Of course it was difficult to let go, but I realized quite a few things about our relationship between memories and possessions during the entire experience:

1.I am not my stuff. We are more than our possessions.


2.Our memories are not under our beds. Memories are within us, not within our things.


3.An item that is sentimental for us can be an item that is useful for someone else.


4.Holding on to stuff weighs on us mentally and emotionally. Letting go is freeing.


5.You can take pictures of items you want to remember.


6.Old photographs can be scanned).


It is important to note that I don’t think that sentimental items are bad or evil or that holding on to them is wrong. I don’t. Rather, I think the perniciousness of sentimental items—and sentimentality in general—is far more subtle. If you want to get rid of an item but the only reason you are holding on to it is for sentimental reasons—if it is weighing on you—then perhaps it’s time to get rid of it, perhaps it is time to free yourself of the weight. That doesn’t mean that you need to get rid of everything though.

I think the key is right above - highlighted.

I want to get rid of so many things, but I feel guilty, because there are memories and emotion tied to those items. However, they are limiting me on finding the place I want to live, because my BIG china cabinet just has to fit. I have so many breakable items from around the world, and I like to showcase them. I used to have a larger house, I no longer live that lifestyle - and my current life and longings need to reflect the items I am carrying with me on this journey.

What's weighing you down? If you got to start all over again, like I am about to, what would you drop and what would you carry with you?

Talk about carrying your baggage. ;-)