This came about after our priest spoke about 'decluttering' her sermon a couple of weeks ago. As I recall, she was referring more to getting rid of that which clutters our souls, our inner lives...but on reflection, it seems to me that this can work its way into our concrete, exterior lives too.
Clutter often arises out of an inability to let go of the past.
Some years ago I bought a good, sturdy shredder, and began to get rid of some of the paper 'clutter' in my life. Then...I stopped. A year went by; then two; then three.
After her sermon, I knew it was time to face it again -- and I ended up with four and a half bags of shredded paper!
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| The first two bags... |
I let go of all those old documents until...
Until...
Until I got to my late DH's Estate. Now 10 1/2 years gone...
I couldn't do it.
I managed one bank statement and a couple of cheques...but...
I couldn't continue.
Even though I have plenty of photos, old books he owned, memorabilia he saved...somehow, shredding the financial documents, cheques bearing his signature, would have been like erasing his existence.
I put them away.
I forgave myself my sentimentality.
Then I moved on into the day.
