From the old joke about two kids, one with a room full of the most amazing new toys and another with a room full of manure. The first kid is crying bitterly surrounded by a pile of new gadgets and games….
Why are you crying?†the father asked.
“Because my friends will be jealous, I’ll have to read all of these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I’ll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken,†answered the pessimist twin.
Passing the optimist twin’s room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. “What are you so happy about?†he asked.
To which his optimist twin replied, “With all this manure, there’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!â€
So.. that’s what I’m working on doing with this move. When I came awake at 3:45 this morning thinking about a garage full of stuff we have to get rid of and began to get wound up, I took a deep breath and started thinking about how nice it will be to have less stuff. How nice it will be to look for a new house (after renting for awhile). How nice it will be to plan out the decorating in much more detail this time. How nice it will be to replace the curtains we’ve had for over 13 years with new ones (possibly) or at least replace some furniture that is that old and older. That will be fun.
There are things that won’t be…but I am going to try very hard to think about the things that will be part of the adventure. Instead of slogging through packing boxes each day in a rush to get things done, I’m going to enjoy the process of culling the dross from the gold. I’m going to think about how to keep the memory rather than the thing.
That’s my intention. I know there will be stress. We are trying very hard to have one last family/kid oriented Halloween party, especially since the kids don’t have to get up for school the next day! And that is always our biggest joy. Seeing the Bean and her friends dressed up and loaded with candy. And answering the door to our spooky house dressed up and loading up other kids with candy.
So the next couple of weeks will be intense, but I’m going to find a way to enjoy the process not just rush for completion.
(This post needs a thank you to my friend Paula for letting me know about the book Breathing Room. It is really helping me during this process!)
“Life is 10 percent what you make it
and 90 percent how you take it.â€
― >Irving Berlin
Oh, Halloween is ON like donkey kong lady! I can’t wait to see you guys and do trick or treat. I wish our credit wasn’t crap and I could just swoop in and buy that house b/c it’d work perfect for us bedroom/space wise but alas we’re poor folks with bad credit. Though we always pay the stuff that has to get paid (housing, utilities, that sort of thing) it’s all that other crap that had to get put on the back burner too many times that prevents it. Someday…
Oh I wish you could buy this house! It’s been a good place for us and the Halloween’s here have been the best. We have to make sure we see each other as much as possible these next seven (gulp) months give or take.
Oh, moving is so overwhelming! Be easy on yourself. Yes, it IS an adventure! And J and Em will be there with you. Good luck!
And… one of these days I want the full scoop on this move! 😉
I’m trying! It is up and down but I’m trying to be mindful about going through the process rather than racing to the end. It seems to help. And I’ll email you and tell you you all!