Going, going... gone!

So... time has passed. A pandemic struck and sent us all spinning and re-evaluating our lives. I'm not sure what happened to me. I stopped thinking about marketing or pushing my work or any other cerebral stuff. I began an exercise routine. I did some decorating and I suddenly became aware of the amount of stuff that I no longer used or even looked at. I set up an Etsy shop and learnt how to put stuff on Ebay. De-cluttering became the name of the game.

This was big for me. I had accumulated a lot of the family's 'stuff' over the years - mainly because I'm a sentimental idiot and find it hard to let go. Then, I learned the beauty of space. Clutter creates decay. Things stuck in corners, on shelves or in boxes tend to disintegrate; no longer do they shine like the pristine treasures they once were. So everything (well, not quite everything yet) was hauled out, cleaned, photographed and put up for sale. Charity shops were already bursting at the seams when I first de-cluttered as everyone seemed to have had the same urges but I managed to off-load a few things.

Mostly, I can't even remembered what I gave away and I took snaps of the few things I didn't want to forget. I still have plenty to get gone but what I have gained is space. Can't remember where I read it, but it's space that's important... not the box or the building or any container but the space inside. Space is the place where we move, breathe, sit, create, dance, socialise - and yes, store a FEW treasures. Our world is 'in space' and is full of space... except we seem intent on filling it up with more people, more buildings, more stuff. Not for me... I've become a fan of the 'less is more' brigade. I have more space and I've some lovely messages from people who now own some of my old stuff. I can't tell you how liberating and rewarding that is.