Emptying the nest · Inspiration

The sunrise of my 400th post!

Shelley

As I was about to write my post yesterday, I noticed I was adding #399.  Holy sh*t…almost a milestone!  I’m impressed with my dedication to my hobby.  So yeah, today, that means you are about to read my 400th post.

Lucky you!

And what does that mean to me?

I get a prize (not an award, because this is an award free-blog)…

A400thPostCapture

A second place prize for effort.  For at least 400 days (in mostly a row), I have shown up here at my blog and wrote a post.

I’ve played with my camera along the way.  And a year later, I’m less angry about the neighbor building a big pole shed right smack in the spot where my favorite sunrise photos came from.

IMG_7033csskrupa

He hasn’t finished his shed, and I haven’t finished a project that I started a year ago either.  So, yeah, we’re second place winners.

IMG_7013csskrupa

Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you. – Arnold Palmer

When I was little my mom’s actions taught me that out-of-sight meant out-of-mind.  That never seemed to work for her to complete things, so I tend to lean toward, keep the items in my sight so I don’t forget about them.

That technique should work, right?  Eventually, we should just get so darn frustrated that we tackle the project.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

But I am learning new tricks, and I’m paying attention to how I got where I am, and why I haven’t gotten to the project at hand, aka, why I do the things I do.

The truth is I was dreading going through the boxes again because I know what is in them.  The contents are records from 2007 – 2012.  The 5 years I was the primary caregiver for my mom who had dementia.  I was working full-time, never missing work, juggling a family, and trying to be everything to everyone.  I knew at some point I’d need my vacation time to take care of my mom or her stuff, so I made sure to be an excellent employee so I wouldn’t get fired.

I didn’t take care of myself as much as I should’ve.  I stored stuff, and I stored every ounce of energy I could by avoiding things that didn’t need my immediate attention.

Every time I thought about going through the boxes, I’d shudder and walk around them.

Yesterday, I had a revelation.

I asked myself, “If I were 24 again, looking ahead to my life at 54 would I want to be walking around these boxes of papers I don’t need, don’t want, and don’t care to relive the contents of?”

I put together a photo frame with a comparison of innocence – on one side there’s a young bride, with a smile and a sense of excitement about the future (me)…

IMG_7024csskrupa

…on the other side are two innocent human beings with a sense of adventure and excitement by getting a taste of everything in front of them.

IMG_7016csskrupa

Both photos represent people with a full life ahead of them.  In-between we met and fell in love with each other and our lives together.

IMG_7014csskrupa

I love that the placement of the photos looks like the kids are looking at me and wondering what the heck I’m doing…

Sure the records in those boxes of papers are our history, but they aren’t our future.  They are holding me back and preventing the joy I deserve.  Most of all, I wouldn’t want to leave these behind for my daughters if I don’t have to.

IMG_7015csskrupa

I took the frame and set it out as inspiration to keep going.  I turned on The Minimalists Podcast and dug into the first box.  Ryan and Joshua can be convincing with their tales of successful minimalism.

IMG_7027csskrupa

I asked myself this question, “Would my younger-self want this record?”  If the answer was nope, into the shredder it went.  If my older-self, aka, the Dubious MinimalistTM knew better, into a pile it went for scanning, then shredding later.

I came across this treasure – my final pay stub from the year 2010 with my sick and vacation time accrual.

IMG_7054csskrupa

2010 was a really tough year.  We emptied, remodeled, and sold my mom’s house.  All the contents came to our house, we had an estate sale, and stored the rest of the stuff for dealing with later.  Our oldest graduated from high school, moved out to an apartment, moved back for a bit, and moved out again.  Other than scheduled appointments, or a mini-vacation with the kids, I didn’t miss work.

Did I have a zest for life?  I can’t remember.  We all survived to tell the tales of it.  There were many good memories made, that’s what I choose to focus on.

IMG_7055csskrupa

Did I enjoy those years or that year in particular?  I’d say, “Yes,” (those papers I saved) and “No,” (those papers I shredded immediately finally).

IMG_7031csskrupa

There you have it – the proof that makes me a 4 Red Ribbon winner for my 400th post!

Post photos inspired by Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge (which, by the way, I’m super excited she’s back from her well-deserved vacation!)

PS – Thank you for being a reader, I treasure your visits and your comments!  

 

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

32 thoughts on “The sunrise of my 400th post!”

    1. Thank you, Andrew! With all the people that comment on your blog posts, I’d say you’ve written well over 400 posts! Congrats to you on your accomplishments!

  7. Congrats! 400 is very impressive! And you’ve made some really good insights into stuff and why we keep it and how it can keep us from enjoying the memories that are truly memorable. Thank you!

  9. Lovely post. I had to clean out and sell my parent’s house, too. I ended up with a lot of their stuff in my basement. My father was a part time photographer and left endless boxes of slides he took all over the world. I don’t have the strength or energy to go through them all. I admire that you went through all those papers and got rid of what you didn’t need.

    1. Thank you! If I can get past the sentimental pieces or records I know I HAVE to keep, I can do it fairly quickly when I’m in the right mood. Before I sold my mom’s house, I spent 1 year and had the shred away truck come to pick up the papers when I got done sorting them. 15 boxes totaling 375#’s worth of paper…and I’m still dealing with much of what I had to keep for the standard 7 years following death recommended by the attorney for the estate. I agree with you it is exhausting stuff! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

  11. Congrats on the 400th post, Shelley! I’m glad you are sharing the space here at WordPress.

    I have eight months’ worth of filing for mom and myself to catch up on, and no cute photos among the paper. I hope you get through your boxes and find your sight to be project-less.

    1. Thank you, Mary! I’m glad to be sharing space here on WordPress with you, too. Not a blogging day goes by that I don’t think of your kindness and encouragement you’ve shared with me for blogging. I hope you find the time, this winter when we’re stuck in the house, to get through your papers too! Happy Wednesday!

      1. Awww, Shelley, you’re so sweet. I’m hoping to find a less crazy pace at work and get back to the gym and filing this fall. It’s been a busy summer!

        1. It has been busy! I hope the pace slows down so you can enjoy the rest of summer! There is always time to file. 😉

  12. Wow! What an accomplishment! Congratulations, Shelley! Great shot on that lovely sunrise! Thank you for sharing your memories.

Comments are closed.