Moving On Down

                                                                   

Most people, including the Jeffersons, strive to be "moving on up." I decided by choice to be "moving on down."

Yes, downsizing has taken over my daily agenda and fully taken over my brain. Just to be clear...I'm not talking about downsizing in my pants size but it seems like I am lessening everything else.

If moving has ever been a chore before, past moves pale in comparison to this move.

Typically, in one's life you move into bigger and better each and every time. That's the whole point, right? Just deal with the extra stuff later. Usually, you can transport all you own because all you own will fit into the new space. This isn't the case. Not this time.

I can't take now and worry about it later. Later is too late. I have to decide now.

We will be cutting our square footage in half. It would be wise then to only keep half. But which half? My stuff is all good stuff....of course! Will all my prized treasures and heirlooms fit? Nope. Which ones are worthy to keep? With which ones must I sadly part ways? 

Here lies the dilemma.

It's really a healthy exercise...the act of letting go. I tell my boys they owe me big time with a huge thank you! I'm weeding out now so they won't have to plunder through 20 years from now. They do not fully appreciate the gift I have given. Do they ever?! 

You know kids these days don't want any of our collectables or keepsakes. Why? It's just stuff to them. No fine china. No pictures. No furniture. No trinkets. No nada. No thank you.

So much for sentimentality and nostalgia.

Downsizing can feel like an uprising. It's a huge hurdle but one worthy to jump over. At our age, we are getting closer and closer to our finish line after all. 

"Moving On Down" forces you to categorize and prioritize what is truly essential. You must differentiate between the primary and the periphery. 

We're going back to apartment living at the end of this month for the next few months. As I box away, I place all into the not-needed-now stack or the must-have-now stack. The first stack greatly outweighs the second. It has made it glaringly clear how much non-essential stuff I've been carrying. Most of my stuff is non-essential. So why do I spend so much time grabbing and gathering to just one day sell each item on Facebook Marketplace for $20? Less of my focus should rest on that which "moth and rust can destroy and thieves can break in and steal."

It all really is just stuff!

The half I kept I will treasure more fully. The half I released has blessed others greatly. I got blessed to be a part of that gifting as well. 

I do feel:

lighter in my loafers

freer in my freezer

more open in my motion

not as weighted down with SO much to put away 'til another day

Downsizing...Done! 

Now onto the harder task...moving on down in that pants size too...

Change is hard.

Change is good.

Weed out. Be free.

I'm glad I could!