Letting Go

[qos]

I was halfway through a box of file folders before I realized that the process of sorting, discarding, and grouping was an ideal lead-in to my ritual with Ereshkigal this evening. There's a lot of history in those files, a lot of old interests, old values, old passions -- a lot of who I used to be. I like the person I used to be, but I don't need to keep all of her old things as I go forward.

I let go maybe one quarter of what was in that box, most of it clippings from newspapers and magazines regarding old interests. I also let go some files of letters from friendships long expired (but kept others), let go of bits of personal history that didn't have any real significance, let go of a couple of old stories written in junior high and high school that I liked, but had no reason to keep. I have the memories of what I wrote and why. There was no need to keep the pages.

There are still at least three more boxes to go. It's going to take longer than I'd expected.

But another large cardboard box has been emptied, broken down, and put on the stack in the garage, so it's out of my office -- and that feels good in itself.

Comments

[jcalanthe]

Woo! As a packrat that comes by it honestly from both sides of the family, I give you major props for this! I'm starting to have the urge to go through the boxes of crap in my office, so folks like you who are actually *doing* so are role models and inspirational.

This part in particular I find thought-provoking: I like the person I used to be, but I don't need to keep all of her old things as I go forward. I'll be pondering that for a while I expect.

[devorguilla.livejournal.com]

I hate filing... In the middle of many boxes of same myself.

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

your process of letting-go is about 1.75 steps ahead of my own process of letting go.

it is marvellous having you frame the same thoughts I've been toying with but haven't actually put into coherent form.

i can has empty boxes nao? *hee*