Packing Light
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I’m going on a bus trip to the Great Volcanoes of America’s Northwest in early September. I’ve been reviewing the tour company’s instructions as I think about what I want to take with me. The advice I read in the brochure was short and sweet. “Pack your bag and then the day before you depart, take out one-third of what you packed and leave it home.” 😊
Good advice for life too. When I pass by open garages in the retirement community where I live, I’m amazed at the junk people keep—empty boxes, broken bicycles, soiled sofas, car parts, rusty tools, and on and on. I want to shout, “Take out one-third and you’ll feel lighter the moment it’s hauled away. Repeat this process until you have room to move around and space to park your cars.”
But I doubt they’d listen to me. People love their ‘stuff.’ And many keep it no matter what. But ah the freedom one can feel when one lightens up–well, maybe not in some cases. I know that some folks find comfort in holding on to memories through jewelry and clothes and knick-knacks. That’s perfectly fine if it works for them. It was never fine for my mother. Whenever we bought something new we had to get rid of something old. That was her rule, one I inherited, and one I live by.
Today my daughter and I tackled her garage and we felt great as we piled up paper to take to the shredder, cleaned our the tool boxes, hauled junk to the trash, did some weeding and trimming in the front yard, and made a stack of clothes and books to donate to a local charity.
Try as we might, we can’t keep stuff forever. Sooner or later it will be left to our relatives to deal with. Our homes with their trash and treasures will be sold, passed on, or dumped as we fly off to heaven as free spirits, ready for whatever God has in store for us. Now that sounds like very good news to me. Things come and go . . . but our gracious God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
It’s never to early to pack light and live in the liberty it brings.
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7).
Wow, I can really relate to that! Tanya and I have been going thru photos to select a few for my book and I never saw so many pictures! I had to remove photos from a couple albums a few ‘years’ ago as the albums were tearing apart, now I am in the process of getting all the loose ones sorted (I did keep them in some order-but not good enought). Here I am turning 91 in three more days and I have no clue what to do with all of these. I surely will not look at them many more times and duplicates were made so “who cares”?? Throwing them away is difficult when you look at the cute baby photos and see them grow up, swimming in the pool, etc. But Tanya and I are filling up the trash can and it feels good!
Thanks, Karen, for another reminder. Love to you. Margaret
Margaret, a most happy 91st birthday coming up in a few days. What a fabulous milestone.I did a photo purge not long ago and I agree, it feels good to let go of stuff we no longer want or need. I made albums for my kids years ago and for Charles and me. Now I take only digital photos.
Excellent advice, Karen! You gave me some needed motivation to down-size.
Good to hear, Nancy. My daughter told me yesterday that she and her husband finally after 28 years put their garage in the order they’ve always wanted!!
Thanks, for this reminder, Karen. I have a room waiting to be decluttered. I agree with you that it is so freeing to get rid of extra stuff. Have a wonderful trip.
Thank you. I plan to relax and just enjoy the views of some of the national parks and other sights in the northwest.
I’m planning to move in a few months and I’ve been getting rid of stuff. I can’t believe how much I’ve accumulated since I moved here 13 years ago!
Thanks, Janet. It is amazing how we add to our lives. Moving is generally a time to unload and start over. I hope you enjoy the decluttering process.
You touched on something that has been hanging over me for a long time. I have lived in my house over 50 years and the accumulation of three generations is everywhere. Got to take your advice…soon. Thanks for the “nudge”. 🙂
You’re welcome. I hope your decluttering process is one you can enjoy–while stirring sweet memories of 50 years of living.
Great advice! I did a big downsize 7 years ago. But I’m overdue to take on my garage and every closet in my house. Thanks for the nudge!
You’re welcome. I’m nudging myself too. I did a big purge before moving here and again after Charles died but a little thinning out is due again.
When one loves to sew you gather many yards of fabric over the years. But since attending Twin Lakes church and getting involved in sewing dresses for Dress a Girl around the world, I now have a ministry to use all those cute fabrics for dresses for little girls that have so little. And its so much fun purging my stash this way! ;o)
What a wonderful way to use your cute fabrics, Joan, and to declutter at the same time that you bless the little girls.
Yes, getting rid of 1/3 sounds like a good plan!
I agree.
Thanks, Karen. I also went through many photo albums and asked myself, “would my family be interested in these landscapes, NO.” It takes so much time and letting loose of the things that you thought were important in your life. Time to let it go and de-clutter! Thanks for the reminder, Karen. You always encourage and remind us what is important in our lives.
Thank you, Roz. It seems we are all on the same track–to lighten up and live with more freedom..
Oh, Karen, this is so wonderful. Such good advice that I need to hear. My rule is: If I have not used it in the last 5 years, it goes! Dick has 30 or so “painting shirts” he’s saving and has not used one to paint in since I have known him (25 years) Ha ha.
Metaphorically, I need to carried one-third less stuff I carry into each room I enter—judgement, resentments and expectations. As you said, “if I do that, I will feel lighter the moment I haul all of that away!”
You have reminded me to pack light literally and figuratively. Life is so much easier that way. Thanks for the reminder, wise friend.
Thanks so much, Heidi. I chuckled when I read abut Dick’s painting shirts. Charles was like that too. He had casual wear, dressy wear, and yard wear in multiples, most of which he never used. Ha ha! A couple of each would have been plenty. I’m taking my own advice this week and doing another purge of my office and closets. I feel lighter already.
I’m in a season of simplifying myself Karen.
It is so liberating & inspiring! Stirring my creativity too!
🌸Smiles, BRC
Isn’t it amazing, Beth, how bringing order and simplicity to our lives, we enliven our creativity at the same time? I find that to be true too.
I love this post, Karen. In packing for our move, I too am trying to rid us of extraneous things, although I know I’m still packing too much and will need to bring some things back for an estate sale. But what a good time to review, give, sell, eliminate … it sounds like you had a very productive morning with Erin doing just that. And your upcoming trip sounds awesome! We look forward to hearing about it.
Thanks, Carol. I’m excited about my trip and in preparation I’m doing another purge of closets and drawers as I pull together what I’ll need for the tour.
Karen, my shed got all cleaned out completely! I am relieved not to have those things to deal with later.
And yes, I always pack too much clothes and make-up!! It’s a women’s thing!!