Non-attachment

This whole quitting my job, moving out of my apartment and leaving the country thing is really great but also kinda stressful. There is just soooooo much to do before I leave. Nothing killer, just a sheer quantity of a bajillion things to do. Any one of these three things - quitting my job, moving or going to India - would have a legion of details relating to it. Combine it all and you get the Roman army.

Okay, I'll end the horrible analogy now and move on to what is really great and exciting.

I love getting rid of things. Some practical/pack-rat part of me gets very nervous when I sell, donate or toss out anything. This reluctance to part with anything even includes tattered socks I've had for 12 years or cartoon pencils I've had for almost 20 year. Honestly, nestled comfortably in my jar of writing implements are pencils I have had for as long as I can remember. It is sick in its own way.

However, another part of me loves to get rid of things. It is just so lovely to let go of things and not have to deal with it anymore. On a tangible level that would be clothes, files, silverware, tables, book cases, books and other such worldly belongings. The more you chuck, the less you have to organize, clean, pack, ship, etc. ALSO, the more money you get when you sell it. While it is somewhat uncomfortable to be living without a desk, bedside table, kitchen table, pillows on the couch, etc. it isn't all that bad and it makes me do things differently. It is so easy to fall into ruts and get attached to a particular way of doing things. Getting rid of things is very calming and a good antidote to the stress of quitting, moving, traveling.

This applies to things of a non-material nature as well. Chucking responsibility and involvement with projects, programs, places, and such helps clean out the mind and remind me that most of what I spend my energy on isn't really important.

What is essential is invisible to the eye.