It's that time of the year again. Some military families are facing moves, maybe a grown child has moved out or your kids have outgrown their toys. Like it or not...it’s time to spring clean. The old idea that if you haven't used it in one year -- toss it, is easy to say - not so easy to do. Getting the kids on board is even harder. However, every year it is part of our ritual.
With the post-wide yard sale looming just around the corner, I had to get moving. So I sat the crew down and told them that we had to go through our stuff and purge what we no longer needed. I reminded my kids of the incentive we use each year - whatever they donate and sell in the yard sale ... they get to keep that item's profit. Let me tell you, the ï¬rst time I suggested to the kids that they choose items for a yard sale, they were VERY resistant. None the less, they were coerced into the process and after getting through it, they each made over $100.00! Not so hard to get them to get rid of things now. They are happy to earn the money to buy things that hold their interest at this age. Even my child with Aspergers gets on board when he reaps the reward of money from his old things to buy more Legos or items of special interest!
As for myself and my husband, there is something to be said for staying under weight for the permanent change of station (PCS) moves that lay ahead. The thought of paying a dollar a pound overweight is enough to keep the process of dumping unused things on track. I know many a military wife who has found herself buying less shoes because she has overage to pay. Not me, I love me some shoes and the latest fashion. But I make no qualms about yard selling wine glasses from a military ball we attended 10 years ago. I can then trade up to buy a new chef tool, pandora bead or a something nice for my husband. Most recently our sale proceeds contributed our oldest daughters college education fund and for family vacations. Granted, I might take a hit now and then for not having more "military bling", as I call it, around our house. But to quote a highly respected military spouse I have known several years and whose well known phrase I love.... "That's just how I roll!". I'd like to think that I can help my children see the value in being able to let go of those things that serve little purpose in their daily lives anymore by leading by example. Practice what you preach, I tell myself.
So after two days of purging items from every corner in every room, I must say I feel better. Dare I say lighter? Letting go of things that really have no true value in your life anymore is liberating sometimes. I used to have a collection that I gathered here and there over the years. Now I ï¬nd it just doesn't "do it" for me in the same way as taking pictures of my kids or scrap booking or taking a day trip.
Take the time this spring to lighten your load. Free yourself from unwanted things, and donate to a charity, or make a little money in the process. Your whole family will feel a better for it. There is wealth in time and memories, far greater than wealth in things. In the years to come, I hope my heart is heavy with love and memories and my PCS loads ahead are light on "stuff".
