Reality Check

Finally our new home is in some semblance of order.  I no longer have to invite my dog to be a guest writer!  It's a little embarrassing to admit we have so much "stuff" that it took almost a month to sort, organize, and place everything.  We have fewer rooms and less square footage than in our previous home, so our aim was to downsize.

"Be ruthless," we told each other while we were sorting and disposing of years of accumulated possessions on our previous country mile.  We were so pleased with the results of our labours: many items shared with our children and their families, bags and bags of donations to the local used goods charity, even more bags of recyclables carted away, and box after box of garbage set out on the road several weeks in a row.  We sold many superfluous pieces of furniture as well as freezers, heaters, a riding mower, and even a hot tub!

And, no sooner had we begun unpacking at our new address, than we realized that we hadn't been ruthless enough.  Out went another couch, several chairs, small tables, many ornaments, knick knacks, and pictures, a chain saw, and all kinds of miscellany.  You're probably thinking that there can't be much left but the truth is that despite all the shedding of extra goods, we still have a lovely, comfortable, and well-appointed new home here on our new country mile.

So why am I embarrassed?  What we disposed of with two rounds of weeks of work added up to enough goods to provide for several families in a third world nation.  And the groceries and clothing we moved to the new home would likely feed and clothe those families for a long time also.  It doesn't feel right that two people should be in possession of such wealth when so many people in the world are cold, hungry, and needy.

My new life resolution is to strive to live more simply, use fewer products, shop less, recycle more, and be content with the riches I have.  I'm more blessed than I ever suspected, mainly because I wasn't paying attention to all I have.