As many of you know, the
Thornton Team is relocating to Tennessee to expand our base of operations. Though we have been in Tennessee for quite awhile, there has been no physical Home America Mortgage presence there. This will change beginning Monday, April 28th as the
Thornton Team will be in Knoxville!
To all of our Georgia friends and business partners, do not fear! We will continue to provide the same high level of quality service to you and your clients that we always have!
Because of this move, I have taken advantage of the opportunity to
Feng Shui it (thanks
Carole Provenzale)! There really is more than a metaphor at work here. I am talking about simply cleaning out the clutter; redefining myself by who I am rather than partially defining myself by what I have acquired over the years. It is difficult to sweep away the glitter that provides distraction from the person we are on the inside. The concept of self actualization is often hindered by the layers of accumulated stuff. These layers act as insulating barriers between the core self and the world at large. It is much too easy for us to acquire things that both reflect who we are, and define part of our identity. This is why I took this time to strip away some of the clutter that separates me from others.
How does one sell or donate most of their possessions without getting depressed or sad? That was a huge concern when I first decided to let go. I had allowed myself to be so defined by the things that I had acquired that I was scared of what might be left after the things were gone. I decided I had to move on, not because I had said I would but because it was time. As frightful and uncertain as it was, I knew it was necessary. I started by deciding what things were truly important to me and I packed those away for the move.
There was a lot left! Next I began moving the remaining stuff to the garage for sale. I tried to organize and price it using a system that worked for me. I would like to be able to say that this was an easy thing to do (both physically and emotionally) but it was not. The sore muscles and the mixture of emotions reflected how I felt on the inside. As tired and emotionally drained as I was from this exercise, it would be compounded by strangers carelessly picking through the remnants of my persona. It was difficult to experience the nonchalance of these garage salers. It was also cathartic to see how little this stuff meant to others and ultimately me. The garage sale was a success!
As with most garage sales however, I was left with what nobody wanted. In crept the temptation to retrieve what was left and cling to it. Not happening! I took what was left and found appropriate charities to donate to. Stuffed animals and anything kid related went to
Nspireatlanta a local charity that has an innovative approach to alleviating homelessness. Books, several hundred, went to my local
Roswell Regional Library, and the remaining furniture went to the
Goodwill.
It was done. The remnants of the past were shaken loose and I was left with the the core of my being. Who I was. What I knew. Those things that had so defined and separated me from others were gone. It was as if I was a babe in the woods, but this would be naive for anyone to believe. Though I had been insulated and protected by all that stuff, the world had armed me with knowledge and experience. I may present myself as a naked babe but in honesty, I was far from it. The years of experience and the years of living, had ingrained a know how that is not easily attained nor is it represented by glitter but by substance.
So we have shaken free of the glitter! So we start again! So we return to what we know! With what we have learned we face the world as a mouse before a lion. There is no fear where knowledge and perseverance and honesty are our triumvirate. A soul unencumbered by the old ways has emerged in beauty and truth and nakedness.
Hello Tennessee, we are here...
About the Author
If you are in the market to purchase a home or even refinance an existing loan and you want a loan officer that will walk with you every step of the way, then contact Danny or Rich of the Thornton Team at Home America Mortgage today. We can have you pre-approval in as little as 4 hours. You can visit our website or send an email to thorntonteam@homeamericamortgage.com or call us @ 770-998-1964.
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I have a suggestion on clean out. Can you go to the store and replace this item? If so, it is a possible item to throw away.
Second, have I used it in the past year? If no, then seriously look at it. I use everything. If I do not want to wear an outfit, I donate it. I keep everything on a list and wear what is next (with some variation for evening wear and summer/winter.)
I clean out my draws and file cabinets every six months and put in to storage or trash most. I have found once something goes in to storage, i RARELY ever use it again. :) Happy decluttering.