I love organization. I enjoy cleaning, sorting, packing. For me, it is the same process as putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It takes time, observation, and patience.

We are getting our home ready for putting it on the market. It has been a wonderful home with a beautiful yard. We would like to downsize, preferring to not have an acre to take care of. To help us, we had an amazing woman walk through and make suggestions and share tips.

Since you end up packing things you want to keep, she suggested using clear totes to see what is inside. I chose ones with a strip of foam in the lid for keeping out moisture (and critters). This was especially important for books and important papers, including almost 50 years of journals!

Thinking ahead to living in a potentially smaller home, I have been using a process of mindfulness in determining what to keep, what to pack, and what to keep out for staging. It is a time for casting off. Boxes of books have been taken to the local resale shop. Papers so important at some time in the past have filled the recycle bin to overflowing. Significant trinkets are now being given away.

A woman was being moved out of her home into assisted living due to what was then called memory problems. Pointing to a beautiful painting of the Lord’s Supper that had been hanging in that dining room for two generations, her daughter asked if she wanted to take it with her. Her mom waved her hand and shook her head no, saying, “I am sure at one time I knew all of them, but I don’t recognize a one of them anymore…”

I still remember.

I could not stand the thought of packing away what has become a life-altar, gifts and representations of special people and places and ideas I value. (See my recent post: Treasures)

I was inspired by a beautiful pottery piece gifted to me by my sister Janis recently for time assisting her settling in to their new home. This pottery was special, made by her dear friend, Louie, in the gallery Janis had in the home that had belonged to our parents. His pottery was a perfect foundation for all the messages of love, inspiration, healing. Elements of rock, shell, wood, gems, and paper—all harmoniously gathering!

It was pure joy to witness each finding space. And best of all, the doors can be closed, allowing privacy for my treasures and an appropriate simplicity to welcome the new owners!