Letting Go
It is so hard to get rid of stuff. You know what I mean, right? When I take inventory of my surroundings, I sometimes feel a little claustrophobic. That leads me to schedule a garage sale or donate to a local charity. But as I am going through my things, I find myself having a hard time parting with them. Not because I use them or even want them. It is because of the memories they invoke or what they represent. I recently have had several occasions to help friends with estate sales or downsizing. It is easy for me to look at other peoples "stuff" and objectively make quick decisions regarding their value. However, the monetary value rarely equals the emotional value things have to their owners. Almost every item we own has a story and those stories are woven together to make us who we are. Parting with those items then becomes a symbol of parting with a piece of our lives. Take for instance, a quilt that grandma made and passed down to your mother. Over the yea