Despite a headache of near migraine proportions, I spent 5 hours last night plowing through the mess in my life. Ok, so maybe my life isn't particularly a mess, per se, but sometimes things feel neglected. The linen closet in the hall winds up with an assortment of aging, forgotten toiletries... Unfortunate clothing choices stare at me screaming "I was an impulse buy...muhahaha!" Magazines stack up because there was some article that I found enticing (...but which one was it again?). Wait...why, exactly, do I need two pastry blenders?
So I got rid of it...as much as I could. I donated what was salvageable...I tossed what wasn't...I organized what was left. I'm not quite done...the upstairs closets still need my attention and the cabinets in the laundry room could stand a good going-through...but I made great progress. Before I collapsed in bed, I stood in front of the linen closet for awhile and just...breathed. It was such a feeling of relief to be rid of those things that I don't really need or use...things that just don't make me feel happy. It's remarkable how shedding a physical burden can release the emotional burden.
I was telling TOWWAS this morning that I seem to do this every year during the last week of December. I think I started, years ago, under the auspices of "making room for Christmas presents"...but in truth, it's become an annual ritual. Maybe this is how I really celebrate the new year: by cleaning out my life and making room. For what? I have no idea. Whatever it is, I now have space for it.
Ellen put the for-sale sign in my yard yesterday with a big sign on top that says "Coming Soon." What an excellent metaphor.
Welcome Yule!
3 comments:
This is all very Japanese of you - cleaning the whole house before the new year. 今年もよろしくお願いします!
I think I might be entirely too tall to be Japanese...but I like the notion. :)
What do the squiggles mean?
Ohmygosh, dude, you would be a GIANT in Japan. A giant, I tell you. I was taller than all my guy friends in Japan. My mom was normal height. The squiggles say "kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu" and it's something like, please continue to treat me with consideration this year. Only it sounds much less dumb in Japanese. Technically one should not say this until Monday.
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