Does your life fit in a moving box?

Does your life fit in a moving box? My answer to this would be a resounding no. And yet. Because there are two boxes standing here in the hallway. One box still has some paperwork in it; that can go soon. The other box holds a few odds and ends and photos. It's the only thing left of my dearest dad. It feels strange. Everything has been arranged and done. We gave a lot of things away. A lot to the thrift store. Sold a few things. Little did I know there'd still be so much interest in a comfortable but hideous (in my opinion) Prominent armchair. A snazzy walker, barely used, could also count on plenty of response. The ease with which we "disposed of" dad's things is odd.

When a box is the only thing left after a whole life.. It really got me thinking. I look around my own house. All those things. Chosen and bought with great care. What will be left of this later? For whom? My nephews have their own parents and certainly won't be waiting around for Auntie Sanna's junk later on. It feels very sobering. But somewhere there's something refreshing about it too. Decluttering is the word haunting my head.

But where to start? I look at my wardrobe. There I really do see a "chain problem." I used to have just a summer coat. And a winter coat. Ironically, thanks to climate change I now have an in between coat hanging in the closet too. For spring. Autumn. A dressy version. A less dressy version. Shoes go with those. And bags go with those again. "I'm good for the economy," I always say when the home front diplomatically asks, "But don't you already have enough sneakers?" I'm sure a lot of girls will recognize this picture.

Yes, I want things to be different. So, "Come on San, if you want to change something, that calls for different choices too." And my choice is to no longer let myself be tempted into impulse buys. During the upcoming Black Friday, for instance. The deals have been flying at me for weeks now. No impulse for things "on the side." Or "just for fun." Or "an offer not to be missed." Yes, I'm going to choose even more consciously and more often for doing things and making memories. An outright bonus on top of that: according to research into mental health, that also makes you much happier! It saves one more box for later anyway. The old man would be proud of me.