The older I get the more stuff I throw away. Do I really need this tea cozy I got as a wedding gift in 1976? Or how about this huge plastic bag lof hooks and snaps that will come in handy someday? Or hey, looky here! A smashed open pinata from my daughter’s 7th birthday….she’s now 40. The thought that I would repurpose these things has instead fueled my car to Goodwill and not only cleared out my house but lifted is a weighty brain-clutter that has been dividing my thinking for some time now.
Recently I purchased a beautiful new leather purse to lug around a bunch of stuff I don’t need. Nestled amongst the necessities, my wallet, sunglasses, phone, and keys were 2 bottles of hand sanitizer, note pads, a handful of almonds that had dropped to the bottom of the bag, several lipsticks that I thought I had lost and more. Much more. This made digging for what I do need as difficult as searching the entire house looking for the Santa Clause suit that I forgot I gave away in the 90’s..
So, I’ve simplified. The few things that don’t fit in my pockets ride along with me in the front seat of my car giving me a bit more relief and an unencumbered soul.