From The Past: May 29, 2008

I watched a TV program a few days ago that showcased a house which had been renovated. The owner had a hollow box prepared above the fireplace specifically for a flat screen television. Although we don’t own a flat screen TV, I know many people do.

My immediate reaction when I saw this was, what a way to save space!

This got me thinking about ways we are saving space better than we ever have before. Our photos for example are taken, for the most part, on a digital camera. If I really need a hard copy to mail to someone, I can easily put the photo on a thumb drive and take it to any store to be copied for a minimal fee. 99% of my photos stay on my computer which is a huge space saver.

Most of the music I listen to is also on my computer. I do have a ton of CD’s, but they are no where near as accessible as the music on my computer, so I don’t listen to them as much as I would like. I still save lots of space by not having CD’s of every song I own.

My home videos are now stored on my computer. It’s been a long time since I actually made a hard copy of any video. Now all I do is record using the camera and send it straight to the computer. No mess and no wasted space.

Space and things are on my mind and have been for some time now. When I was younger, I used to wonder how some elderly people could have so much during their life and then end up with virtually no items in the end.

Now, as I age, I see how piece by piece, things are sold, donated to charity, or given to friends or relatives. It is amazing the toys and clothes Ashley has already gone through. Granted, we have containers full of things in the attic, but we have given away a lot. This, to me, is a good thing.

I have learned to take pictures of things I want to remember, but don’t need physically. A perfect example of this was with Andrew’s science boards. In 6th, 7th, and 8th grades he had to complete science projects which included assembling science boards.

Since so much money was spent making his boards, I kept them. I also kept them because I thought they may serve as some sort of reference for the following year (they never did).

Andrew graduated high school, twelfth grade, in May 2007. These boards were still sitting beside my refrigerator after keeping them 5, 6, and 7 years. I had convinced myself that they may be of reference for one of Ashley’s projects.

When I conveyed this to Kevin he was floored. He said, “Why don’t you just take a picture of them?”

Brilliance. Pure. Brilliance.

Why had I never thought of this?

I snapped the pictures and then we threw the boards into the Herbie. It felt good to have that space freed, but it also felt good knowing I could look at those boards any time I wanted.

This is how I cope with freeing myself of objects. I take a picture and then I let the object itself go; whether it is to the Herbie, or Goodwill, or a relative. Pictures for me no longer take up space, they are easily accessible, and I have them forever.

I don’t like feeling bogged down by clutter and now understand how the elderly often end up with so little. They understand the fact that they can’t take it with them, so they may as well give it away if it is not used.

For the things I do not use, which have no meaning, or I no longer enjoy, considering things this way makes life and letting go a lot easier.