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Storage of Good Stuff




It’s time to take the Christmas decorations down. It took days to get my reindeer in working order. I have five. Several had to have entire new strings of lights. All of them had to have parts checked and fixed.


The reindeer are stored inside boxes. They collapse and don’t take up a lot of the storage room. There is designated storage space for them.


Other storage space is full of past records. I still keep these for seven years. It may not be necessary to keep paper records for seven years anymore, but old habits die hard. At least every year I get to shred one of the boxes as outdated.


Other stuff in storage are items that I will need one day. This isn’t a box that is full of light bulbs or the box full of extension cords or the box full of wire and extension cords that have been cut apart. These boxes are full of all sorts of stuff.


I needed a bracket the other day when I was fixing the reindeer. I knew I had one. I pulled out all of my boxes of stuff. I couldn’t find a bracket I knew I had somewhere. What I did find was a screen door closure, property flags, bolts and screws, plumbing parts that were overage from past repairs, chair leg tips for outdoor furniture, various sizes of metal plates, small pieces of wood; you know, the precious things. I also found two boxes of tape players, as well as another two boxes of tapes that won’t play on my current TV. In another section, I found six boxes of books that I have read. I do re-read them because they are well-written and entertaining. Maybe someday I’ll get around to getting a Kindle.


Needless to say, I didn’t find a bracket. I had to improvise with what I found. Also needless to say, I didn’t remember half the stuff I found, and usually will go to the store to get a part, which I will find later in my stuff.


What is also, needless to say, most of this stuff should be disposed of instead of stored. The problem is, it is so precious. How can I dispose of it?


That wasn’t a choice when my spouse became ill and died.

The loss was overwhelming. I was numb. I couldn't dispose of any stuff at that point.


Now, I am recovering from this extreme grief and have to figure out what the New Year will bring.


There are choices. 


I can stay stuck behind doors, be overwhelmed with grief, or I can seek to open doors and try to find some joy. 


I can begin to remember good times, fun times. I can try to find some happiness. 


I don't want my memories to be stuck in the boxes of storage that are outdated and useless.


I want my memories to be the ones that stimulated me, made me a better person, got me out of the house.


I want to actively re-enter life. To do so, I have to get out of my chair and open new doors.


I may even clean out the storage shed (but not all of it).


Contemplation: What do we cling to that is outdated and useless? What can we salvage that we need?

Let me know how you are doing. I care.


Sincerely,

Lynn Brooke


© 2024 Our New Chances

Photo Credit: © 2024 Rachel Gareau 

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