Letting go of anything can be difficult. There’s a reason storage units are cropping up everywhere, filled with the items people don’t want to part with. In our capitalist society, spending money on things you don’t really need is the norm while holding onto them is becoming more and more prevalent.
My Dad passed away in January 2008. The Christmas before he died, he bought me various pieces of yard equipment for the house I had recently purchased. One of the items was a leaf blower. It was nothing special, probably costing him $50 or less at the time. I’ve had that leaf blower for 17 years, using it religiously every weekend to beautify my yard.
Although it still works, the time has come for me to part with it. The battery no longer holds a charge and because it’s so old, I doubt I’d be able to find a replacement. Plus, a new leaf blower is less than $100. It’s simply not worth the hassle of trying to keep it. And yet, the fact I have to get rid of it pains me a little. Knowing it was the last gift I received from my now long since departed Dad, it’s difficult to simply throw it in the trash.
Holding on to inanimate objects as though they’re somehow connected to those we once loved can be linked to a mental disorder when in the extreme. You need only turn on the TV and watch one episode of Hoarders to see how bad it can get. Most of us don’t have this severe of a case; however, that doesn’t mean we don’t struggle letting go of things we know should be thrown out or donated. My leaf blower will end up in the trash this week but not without some somber thoughts, gnashing of teeth and bargaining with myself in an attempt to keep it.
Death comes for us all but that doesn’t mean we have to like it. Losing a loved one is challenging to say the least, so we attempt to quell the pain by holding on to anything and everything that may remind us of who they once were. Wearing a ratty sweater, sitting in a favorite arm chair or opening the family bible can all be coping mechanisms to manage our feelings and face the reality of life without them.
As silly as it sounds, blowing the leaves off my sidewalk provided fond memories of my Dad and thoughtful reflections of our time together. Throwing it away is necessary but difficult due to an unhealthy attachment I have to an object that has neither feelings nor memories trapped inside it.
In the end, things are just that, things. They store no memory and may or may not have value to anyone other than yourself. Purging our closets, storage units and backyard sheds of the items we no longer use or need can be cathartic. It also may be necessary to make room for items we actually need or want, providing us with additional space and a much needed “spring cleaning” regardless of the season we’re currently in.
With the holidays around the corner, now may be a good time to take a look at the multitude of storage bins in your closet and make some tough decisions. Do you need four Christmas trees, hundreds of ornaments and a multitude of other holiday trinkets? Can anything be sold to help offset holiday expenses? This isn’t to say we need to get rid of everything, but a general house cleaning and inventory of items used versus those collecting dust is never a bad idea.
As I stare out my window, several leaves fall peacefully to the ground, providing an idyllic setting for the season.
It’s also a great opportunity to give the old leaf blower one last go round before I say goodbye, no doubt wiping a tear from my eye.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
