I didn't mean to go overboard on the first day, but the fact that I only recently moved and happened to be tackling one of the biggest stacks of boxes in the house, made it much easier to come up with an item--or 10!
Item #1: A wool jacket that I bought in India when I first arrived..um, more then TEN years ago! I haven't worn it in a long, long time. It's beautiful, but no longer my style. It's also worn out and has a hole in one of the pockets. I really do value the things I brought back with me from India because it was a hugely important time in my life. But it is starting to feel like time to let go of some of those things. I tried it on and then picked up another jacket from India that I had tailored especially for me. I decided to ditch the ragged old wool jacket and keep the custom tailored one. Ahhh, I feel good about that. :)
Item #2: A handmade ceramic vase that I made once upon a time. It's perfect for just a few flowers, but is uglier than sin. I don't need ugly. That vase has served me well. Functional, yes. But I can do without irritating ugliness.
Item #3: a fancy, BIG wine opener in a big stupid box. I don't even understand how the wine bottle opener works. I'd give it to my sister, but it's going straight in the garbage instead. I'm afraid that if I don't do away with it pronto, it won't happen at all!
Item #4: A miniature wolf sculpture. Don't tell anyone, but I used to collect fairies and, somewhere along the lines, friends started giving me wolf paraphernalia, too. They gave them to me because I love wolves and am also lucky enough to have one as my companion and pet...but the 3 inch porcelain statue...ee-gads! Bye, bye little wolf.
Item #5: A torn tapestry that I once used as a bedspread on our guest bed. Torn to shreds by my dogs, I think I was saving it to sew into something new. What, I have no idea.
Item #6: A box of half burned taper candles. Once upon a time I worked as a florist. We did lots of weddings and rented out candelabras on a regular basis. For awhile, before Y2K, I saved all those half used candles in case the world came to a screeching halt at the turn of the millennium. Well, the power never went out. Nothing changed. I've never needed those candles. I've saved them this long for an "emergency" that has never come. Maybe I'll regret that decision some dark day in 2010, but I've decided to take my chances.
Item #7: A torn, battered, abused copy of
Helter Skelter. I can't believe I even read that book! If I'm not mistaken I read it about 20 years ago. a) that makes me feel old. b) what the hell have I been lugging it around all these years for anyway??
Item #8: My recently favorite purse. One problem: the handle broke. What good is a big, ol' purse that's missing a handle. Yay for me for getting rid of it! Does this mean that I get to treat myself to NEW purse? Yes, I think it does! :)
Item #9: A very favorite ceramic platter with bowl made by my husband. When my husband and I first met, we were both potters. The consequence of that is 100s of pounds of pottery that we're never quite sure what to do with. This particular platter has been loved much and used often. One problem: it has a huge crack! It's bound to break one of these days...probably at the worst possible time. We could fix it, but come on...it's broken. I think it's time to let it go. Good bye platter; I've loved you!
Item #10: My beloved curtain from
Anthropologie. I bought this curtain for the lofted bedroom of the home I built with my very own hands. I've always loved
Anthropologie curtains, but they're expensive! Not to mention, this one is particularly infused with memories of a home I once loved, but have since left behind. The curtains are falling apart, but my memories are still as vivid as can be. There is no use for shredded worn down curtains in my life. I am letting it go because my life is filling up with new windows with new views. Goodbye yesterday. Hello today.
As I write this, it is already Day 2. I hope to tackle another stack of boxes, but will take it easier on myself this time around (yesterday ended with raging migraine--ugh). Who knew unpacking could be so incredibly taxing? One thing I know is that I felt so much better when I woke up this morning. I can literally feel the new vibrations that are flooding into the spaces that I freed up yesterday. Wow--the difference is incredible!
