Moving Reminds me of Summer School

Summer school was not something I would have chosen for fun – but, I had to take a few classes in order to graduate. I was given another chance to master what I had missed. The move back has felt like those rigorous summer school classes I had to take: chemistry, economics, and Shakespeare. I liked one, but just couldn’t master the others!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Learning life’s little lessons, absorbing its reproofs, and prospering, remains my goal, especially in the new corner of my autumn’s garden – I want to graduate! So, here are two remedial lessons in this summer’s school.

• Orderliness isn’t a talent that comes naturally to me. So, I am grateful for teachers — friends — who freely model better habits than I have acquired. One teacher this past week kept telling to ignore the squirrels – those pesky, distracting thoughts that can interrupt a chore, generate anxiety or confusion. Make a plan, and work the plan.
  

  Self-reflection is the first step to decluttering because it’s not about the stuff. ~Author unknown

• Emotions – sadness and happiness – are constants no matter where I live; they swirl around, and bump into the realities — our age and stage. No matter what our chore list, we just don’t move as fast or confidently as we did even ten years ago — which is not a bad thing: less of chance of spills or tumbles we hope!

Collect moments, not things. ~Author unknown

Order is emerging . . . the two pluses here are a large garage and a basement . . . who knew THESE are more valuable than waterfront property?

Such a reaction confirms, school isn’t over this summer . . . sixteen or seventeen small boxes are looming about the dining room waiting for their next perch, or pitch – and after that, the stacks of books are waiting, old-time friends who are about to find appreciative new companions.

Let me share my Homework from both ends of a move that may help you gentle reader:

• Ask for and accept help, period. (PRAYER is a priority!)
• Pay attention to what others have learned about moving and apply what is appropriate. Real Simple and Consumer Reports offer basic texts.
• THINK about what your daily life looks like – AND what you need to live comfortably and simply.
• Get rid of stuff – even valuables — that does not contribute to your strength and serenity. Again, this means THINK about what you need to live so that you do not burden others, or useless.
• A move means some treasures stuff breaks . . . get over it.

It’s a mistake, when life hands you a tough lesson, to think that you can get back at life by not learning it. ~Robert Brault

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