Clearing Clutter
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Nonessential materials
This week has been an eye-opening experience for my siblings and me as we've cleaned out my mother's house. Due to health reasons it was necessary to move her out of state.

It has taken us four days to clear out all the clutter that has been accumulated over the many years of habitation. My mother was/is a "pack rat." She saved EVERYTHING, particularly nonessential items that just sat in some drawer or closet, probably forgotten.

I remarked to my sisters-in-law that I saw very few items that I recognized, most having been accumulated in recent years, probably picked up at junk stores and yard sales. But why??? Little dishes or trinkets appealed to my mother at the time, then were stashed away and forgotten.

It has made us realize that we clutter up our lives with unnecessary things. Each of us has vowed to now go to our own homes and begin clearing out all the junk we've stored... so OUR kids won't have to go through what we just did.

It occurred to me that the same is true with our thoughts and attitudes. How much "clutter" do we carry around in our heads on a daily basis? I've been away from home for five days now and been too busy to think about anything, really. The "busy-ness" of my everyday life is gone as I focus only on this one task at hand.

In a way that has been refreshing. My mind has been clearer and I've been able to see the overall picture. I've been able to see that people and living beings are far more important than our accumulated treasures and trash.

This week has been a very satisfying time getting to know my brothers again. We all live far apart and see each other only under rare or hurried circumstances. I have actually been able to spend TIME with them... and gotten to know them better... and they me.

Perhaps my reputation as being the "weirdo" in the family (a UFO nut) has been pushed aside and a different perspective has come through. I know that my preconceptions have been dispelled with them.

This has brought us all closer together, and we all now look forward to a reunion with our sisters as well at an upcoming family wedding in July. With all this clutter cleared away... it's going to be a joy for all.