Sorted, organised, boxed, sealed and labelled; our things ready to come with us on the next adventure in our lives. The old and broken are committed to disposal to the displeasure of our nostalgia. From simple things like a foot high plastic Christmas tree that we have convinced ourselves we will never use again, to old and torn t-shirts, jumpers and jeans that will be donated and forgotten. Years from now we will look back on old photos and see a couple smiling in front of a tourist attraction, draped in the same clothes whose style will have since been allocated to a decade that will make us cringe. We look forward to it.
It’s a strange feeling that we have, seeing our belongings gutted and compressed liked this. The logical part of the brain says there is nothing here. Nothing only things that were manufactured in a factory in some part of the world, sold in a shop half a world away and eventually hoarded in our home another half a world away. But the emotional side of the brain has attached a memory and a feeling to each piece of cutlery, each old shoe and each bottle of never-worn-before-nostril-invading aftershave. What should stay and what should go? Logic versus emotion? It’s a careful balancing act.
We stand in the doorway, holding each other, after taking one last look at the empty rooms we had filled with life for so long. It’s time to move out and move on.
Beautifully written! I just posted about moving too: https://dkpope.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/this-isnt-ill-see-you-later-this-is-goodbye/
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Your post expresses well the nostalgia we feel about the stuff we leave behind. It’s not the stuff itself but the feelings that cling to it we carry with us when we move. I like your post very much.
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Thanks Peter for your continued support and kind words. It’s really appreciated! 😉
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Done that many of times. Most recently an attempt to “downsize” in moving to Florida. Still in process after nine months.
DJ
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Ha! Downsize… Maintaining it would do. In most cases it’s growing! Best of luck with Florida. Thanks for reading 😉
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I love this. Letting go to let something new in.
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You condensed it to seven words. That’s exactly it! 😉
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This is great and so true!
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Thanks again Jessie. Always appreciated!
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Very accurate reflection – just the way I felt looking at our ‘stuff’ the last day before we moved countries.
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Thanks! It’s not easy, is it?
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Thanks for the like! Good luck turning the page.
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No bother and thanks!
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Well said. Moving is a traumatic experience and I think you’ve captured it.
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Thanks Connie!
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I love stories about change, starting fresh, getting rid of the old–even when it’s complicated. My favorite line: seeing our belongings gutted and compressed. Gutted and compressed. Perfect.
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I’m glad you liked it! Thanks Trista 😉
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I can relate. And I must be at least half way across your world!
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Great post and good luck on your new adventure. Thanks so much for taking a little detour to my blog
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I like a nice detour!
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Elegantly composed, especially the attachment to ‘outdated’ objects that hold no physical value. Save for the memories we have of them.
Thank you for stopping by.
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Thanks! And no problem. I’ll look forward to stopping by again.
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To the displeasure of our nostalgia. Very nice. Really love this piece. Very heartwarming. I was right there in the home.
Suzanne
learningtocry.wordpress.com
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😉
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I really enjoyed this. I’ve moved a lot. Actually just last year we moved out to the country and it was really hard looking over some of that collected “junk” and convincing myself it was junk. Very well written.
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Thanks. Much appreciated! It’s never easy is it?
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