If you had said to me ten years ago, I'd be living in a 1,014 square foot condo in a HIGH RISE no less, I would have fallen of my chair! What? Really?
Yes, really.
Much has been written about downsizing, the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of leaving the familiar, the steady, the home.
Yet, on the other side of this coin, treasures many have not dreamed of, I certainly didn't, are there for the taking.
We brought up our sons in suburban Connecticut, not far from the high school. WE had gardens, land, an outdoor shower, (yes, I miss that a lot), a basement, an attic and lots and lots of stuff. A typical American family rising two kids with all the accoutrements, paraphernalia, things; sports equipment, school items, toys, games, you name it, along the way during those precious years.
Then the kids hit the college scene, grew up faster than my heart could take, secured jobs, their own insurance (YES!) and the family home, became a little sad, a little lonely, though still safe for my way of being.
When my husband got a job offer to Denver, we thought, how can we leave this place? How can we? But we did!
As the years went by, from the lovely Eastern home in Connecticut to our fabulous Western pad in Denver, the "things' we thought were so precious began to fade, began to become heavy.
One by one, year by year, we starting shredding, keeping the things we LOVE, USE and TRULY WANT. And you know what? The freedom from our stuff has given us freedom for so much more!
Rather than raking leaves, we hit the art museums! Rather than shovel snow, we are skiing! Rather than cleaning out the garage, we are playing golf!!
I treasure our magnificent years in Connecticut and still get teary eyed at those fantastic memories. But, my husband and I decided that WE, must make new memories and see our beautiful world in a bigger way, and I'm so glad we did.
By: JD Farley, Project Manager & Professional Organizer