Cleaning House

For the past week or so I've been carrying around a feeling of imminence -- lots of thoughts and ideas swirling in my head but no organizational theme, no "start here." I'd begin to write something but could feel it trailing off like a thought that's lost its way. 

So instead I began cleaning out drawers and cabinets. I purged books and old documentation for long-gone household goods, rearranged and reorganized kitchenware and glassware, and winnowed out unwanted and unworn clothing. The end result? A bunch of stuff, some of it quite nice, that I'll distribute to friends, family or charitable organizations. 

A new year approaches and I feel a strong need to prepare for its birth. Optimizing the place I call both home and office is a natural part of that process. 

Along with the material detritus, I'm also saying goodbye to situations or thought patterns that haven't served me well --  the volunteer effort where my investment of time yielded more frustration than satisfaction; the time wasted on mindless TV viewing; sharing my every thought about current events on Facebook in the assumption that it will have any impact on people who believe differently (other than to annoy them). 

All this in preparation for spending some time in thoughtful contemplation of my direction next year. Less mindless meandering, more meaningful pursuits. Less complaining about what's wrong with the world, more effort to improve the small corner I call home. Less time seeing only the issues that divide us, more time finding and nurturing the connections we share.

Comments

[Barb]

My two amigas -- thanks so much for dropping by and commenting! Love you both and am determined to not let 2015 go by without seeing you again!!

[SassyPants]

Beautiful Barberra! Beautiful! So grateful to have met you in 2014....So grateful to call you friend after less than 24 hours....I pray your 2015 is A.Mazing!

[Jen Hofmann]

This brings tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for writing it. <3