Moving and Simplifying

by
Scott Bovenizer

Dear Universe,

I decided to simplify a little. I moved from a big house to a not so big house. Moving = Nightmare. I go to bed wondering where my stuff is. I toss and turn all night dreaming of lost stuff. And I wake up in the morning wondering where my stuff is. They say it's one of the most stressful things we do. It's up there with an alien invasion, and realizing you don't like your tattoos anymore. I knew I had some stuff, but seriously I had no idea. I had to unpack boxes in order to pack. I had so many things I couldn't give it all away. I tried for months. From tools to hundreds of beanie babies, and furniture to old bongs from college. Even Goodwill wouldn't take it all. They did take the bongs. Over the last 2 years I've ordered 3 very large trash dumpsters. They were all taken away full. Yet it wasn't but a month ago that I thought my move might never happen on time. But good friends showed up like the cavalry and pulled me from my tape and cardboard quagmire. Now (almost) everything I own fits into a 16'x16' storage space. Not bad for the first purging. And even as I unpack I'm still getting rid of things; things I thought I wanted. Once committed, simplifying is an ongoing process. It wasn't easy letting go in the beginning. Then I realized that none of that stuff is who I am. Actually, I am more who I am now without it. But it's not just about the stuff. It's a mind game too. Deciding the fate of stuff sitting on-thefence opens some boxed away emotions, but ultimately shedding things is liberating. Through it I've discovered it's not about fitting everything I own into a back pack. Simplifying is about keeping what is meaningful to me. Keeping items that enhance my life today. Keeping things I actually use. Some of the stuff in the attic hadn't seen the sun for 20 years. Now those dusty boxes and everything in them are gone. To where? I don't even remember. If I ever need it, I'll borrow one.

Simply,
Bove