Experiencing life and death, in the act of de-cluttering.

De-cluttering (of material possessions) is often a slow and intentional process. Until a certain constraint forces you to make the hard decisions you’ve been avoiding.

In my case, my family and I are moving (apartments) this Friday, and I have a flight to catch on Saturday.

It’s an incredibly powerful forcing function. And tonight I started throwing away a bunch of sentimental items – by the box-loads.

It was an interesting feeling.

Parts of me came alive while I picked up the long-forgotten pieces of my childhood, and earlier years as an adult. And those parts died when I threw them out.

I didn’t have to experience physical death – to have a glimpse of my life, flashing through my mind.

Of course the ‘coming alive’ and the ‘dying’ are but abstract emotions. But I do wonder – if it’s the coming alive that will free me, or the dying.