This morning I couldn’t find a bowl for my cereal. I finally found a bowl only to realize I didn’t have a spoon. I decided to just make coffee instead and then realized I no longer owned a coffee maker. These are the things we take for granted every day, the things we spend a lifetime accumulating. Well, I’m letting my things go, in every way possible.
Preparing for the moving sale
During Memorial Day weekend, while most Americans were out camping, celebrating, and having fun, I was in yard sale hell. I’ve spent an entire week sorting, stacking and packing up all my earthly possessions, preparing to sell everything at my gigantic moving sale. By the time I opened my garage door on Saturday morning at 9:00, I was already exhausted, but people were parked on the street waiting, and waves of people came and went all day long.
My home, preparing it for the new tenants
Negotiations
“Will you take fifty cents for these?” a woman said to me while holding out a pair of genuine Coach shoes that I paid $110 for a couple of years back. What do you say to such questions? It’s just stuff, and I really don’t need any of it. We settled on $2.00.
Saying goodbye to the old
As people bought more and more things, and piles began to dissipate, I got a little emotional. I watched my old wedding gifts leave packed up in a box with a few of my mother’s items. I ran across some old family photo albums and my daughter’s soccer gear. I thought of all the times I watched her play with my mother beside me yelling enthusiastically at the top of her lungs, as most grandmas do.
An old picture of me I found on the floor of my garage
Dear memories
I ran across my old dog’s little outfits, the one she wore on Christmas and on Halloween. She has long since departed but the emotions are still raw. I met some new neighbors from a few blocks away. “Where are you guys headed?” they asked. I don’t know how many times I had to explain to people that there is no “you guys”. It’s just me. I got a lot of weird looks when I told them I’m traveling the world alone. It doesn’t matter what people think, it’s a calling and I must see it through.
My dear departed Annie (grey one)
My dreams are now goals
My dream is to be a successful writer and to travel the world. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue my dreams and make them reality. Not everyone has such opportunities. The truth is though that I still get anxious, worried, even scared. I wonder sometimes if I’m doing the right thing. Will I be safe? Will I succeed? Will my novels get published? Will I find lasting love on my travels? Will I ever make money from my blog? But then I remember why I’m doing all this. It’s about the journey, not the destination. I’m learning about myself and the world. Breathe Beth, I remind myself. Just breathe.
Me doing yoga in Mexico