Spring cleaning

I was reading more on stuff to add for Lent, and this site had an interesting thing: pick a theme. One was simplicity. "Simplicity - Simplify your life by getting rid of material goods that are not giving you joy. You can make a goal to donate, sell, or get rid of an item each day of Lent."

All the things that don't give you joy. Wow. I like that. So I think it's time to take some trash bags and go through my storage facility. I tried to do it today, but I forgot bags and empty boxes for excess stuff. I managed to grab one box and give mom half (it had canned goods). When I left I was in such a hurry that I just threw everything into boxes. And I mean EVERYTHING. If there was a dust bunny on the floor it probably ended up in storage.

So I need to go through and get rid of some things. I'm sure it's chock full of crap. I did get rid of those 5 boxes of books, but I found two more boxes of books under the kitchen stuff. And do I need all that kitchen stuff? Do I need my window shades? I mean, really. They fit two specifically sized windows, and they're not even the same size. I like them though. They give me joy.

This is going to be hard.

Released to the wild

I let go a little today, and traded in 5 boxes of books for $15. I know! I was almost appalled at how little could be offered for my treasures, but I let them go all the same. I want to them to have a good home. I want people to find them on the shelves of that rinky dink bookstore and wonder, "Will this be as good as it looks?" And for the majority of them, I can say yes. I've read and loved each of those books, and each one is it's own special piece.

I sat in my storage space this morning and went through my boxes one by one. 15 boxes of just books, and I managed to let go of a third. I think that's major progress. It made me want to dig deeper in to storage. What else can I let go of? What else don't I need in my life? I can't think of anything in there but the dried goods that I could get rid of. I really had a pared down life. I didn't collect, except books and art.

I found my taxes, too, though a few weeks too late. I also found a vision board I made last year for Jennifer's birthday. I didn't look at it. I know it's bright and positive. It is colorful and cheery, with a melancholic undertone. I just know. That's what my visions are always like.