Out with the old

Since last year, I didn’t feel enough oomph to tackle bigger projects. Kept them small and doable. For the past few years, I put the “overwhelming” projects off. It is time to clean out the upstairs (catch-all), the office and the one space in the basement (also a catch-all). Gratefully, the garage has room for the cars. If you want to get back at your kids or someone else, don’t clean out your house.

So this year, I am more insistent to get going in these areas. With the new book Swedish Death Cleaning coming out, it put into focus about whether my son even wants any of this stuff. After all, it is my memories, my important papers, my life story in these things. Not much for my son. Or even my husband.

I started in the office.  It looks so overwhelming that I thought about walking away to leave for another day. (NOTE: it is also the Feng Shui money part of the house.) Also it is on the first floor. I started cleaning out the desk drawers one at a time. It is amazing how many memories and just stuff was stuffed in there. I set up a bag for donations, a container for garbage and one for recycling. Drawer by drawer, I thoughtfully sorted. The first drawer was pretty simple. Then, of course, I moved to another file cabinet in the other office which needed cleaning out so I can put the cards in folders which I store in that one.

When I got to the sixth of seven drawers, that is where I stuck pictures. A large amount from a life-defining ritual which turned somewhat tragic. What to do with them. I pondered their place. Is it something my son would want? From what I understand about the Swedish book, the younger people aren’t as likely to be keepers of the memories and heirlooms. What to do with all this stuff? These memories? Those moments in time.

I called my son to ask him about the pictures. He asked me to save a few of them so I tossed the rest. Another rite of passage, letting go? I believe I am ready. As an aside, I will be asking my son as I go along if he is interested in anything before I donate it or toss it. I know he hasn’t landed in a permanent place yet so can change his mind. A courtesy opportunity.

Several years ago, my mother-in-law could not return to live in her house. It was time to get it on the market. My in-laws lived there for over 50 years. So in that house was a museum of their travels, memories, moments, history and much, much more. As I watched my husband begin to throw stuff in the dumpster, I was saddened. My mother-in-law’s special moments meant nothing to the next generation. They were her memories. I kept what I could to send to her niece as I knew she would become the keeper of some of the memories and heirlooms. I also kept the china, silverware, everyday dishes and some of those really cool kitchen utensils that don’t seem to be around anymore.

Maybe that is the key. To figure out what is your value in keeping them. Just looking at the office can be overpowering and it becomes a good excuse to postpone doing it. I still have four long file drawers to go through. Sigh… So, on I go to the next section. Focusing on one small part at a time makes the project much more successful for me. Inch by inch.

Recycling comes around again in two weeks. That is my incentive to move through the paper, one sheet at a time.

Hello, shredder!