Tuesday, 8th December 2015 (North Side, Anguilla) — This year has been a whirlwind of clearing the clutter in my life. Whether it had to do with getting rid of material items, or letting go of relationships, 2015 has meant a super cleaning in all areas. Perhaps all of us have experienced similar activity in our lives during the past twelve months.
As we near the end of another yearly cycle we must reflect on where we have been and where we are headed. From January through December, we’ve had opportunities to assess what’s working in our lives and what we wish to change. So during this season of love, light and holiday celebrations with family and friends, I encourage each individual to do a self-examination and assessment of what is or isn’t working for your life’s Divine Plans. Be honest. Be responsible. Do what is healthy for you. Choose what is best for the development of your true inner Self and who you want to be. But also be mindful to avoid taking actions that could intentionally cause harm to loved ones.
Earlier this year, from January through July, I released four friendships that were discouraging me from moving forward to the next level of higher consciousness. It wasn’t that I really wanted to let go of the friends, but insinuating circumstances in the relations caused them to end. Whether it was by my own choice or the friend’s decision, I had to move onward giving thanks and expressing gratitude for the blessings that I had received from each relationship and for the life lessons learnt.
In July until October, many hours were spent assisting my parents, brother and sisters in clearing out belongings that we no longer needed in our family’s household. Much work was done. Yet there is still plenty more to do after residing at this property for more than four decades with my siblings and I growing from children into adults. Over the years, we have accumulated an overabundance of possessions because of Western society’s economic system encouraging us to buy much more than what we really needed. It certainly is time to give away the things that no longer serve us, so other persons can re-purpose them.
Some items were taken to a Christian congregation’s office at Sand Point Community United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington (USA), where my family retains membership. The articles included clean, useable in good condition blankets, bed sheets, pillows, bath/hand towels and wash clothes. The Church collects household stuffs to donate to individuals who have accommodations at Sand Point Housing. It is a residential project built at the old Sand Point Naval Station, a closed military facility. Some of the Armed Forces’ buildings are used for community residences to house people who have less plentiful incomes. As well, Mountaineering and Sailing Clubs plus a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Office occupy other sections of the former Base.
Many articles were also dropped off at Value Village, a second hand store in the Lake City neighbourhood of Seattle where tax-deductible donations can be made. The Boys and Girls Club of America operates this clothing and furnishings depository. Proceeds received from the sale of re-circulated items benefit Youth Programmes.
I even passed on two of my precious hand-made cloth dolls — one sewn by my mother and another by a girlfriend I’ve known since I was 18 years of age at university. There wasn’t any reason to hold onto these toys and keep them hidden in a box. So I lovingly packed and mailed the beautiful dollies to a young cousin who turned one year old in October. Her mother told me that her daughter enjoys playing with the dolls, especially the one her great grandaunt (my mum) made for me.
Upon my return to the Caribbean in early November, I decided to clear out more of my belongings in my Anguilla home. It was time to get rid of clothes and shoes I wasn’t wearing any more and make room for things I’d brought from my parent’s house in North America. I rearranged furnishings to accommodate the items I wanted to fit in. Some of the things I brought back to the island, like books and fabrics, are being used for the Gender Affairs Programme that I, along with sister colleagues, are currently facilitating.
I’m a firm believer in recycling, giving away and getting rid of what no longer serves a person. If something I want to keep needs mending, then I fix it, so it can be used again. If it isn’t repairable then it goes either into the trash bin for the Corito Landfill or I pass it on to another friend who can make use of it. Some things I donate to the Shoemaker in Stoney Ground since I know he passes the items on to others in need.
Otherwise, I pack away whatever cannot be recycled on Anguilla and carry the items back in a suitcase for recycling during my next visit with family residing in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States. The City of Seattle is well known for its recycling programmes, especially since very few items go into landfills. Numerous products are put either in the yard waste canister, for mulching to make plant fertiliser, or into the recycle container for re-making into other paper, plastic, glass or recyclable material items.
As for letting go of friendships, that’s often times harder to do than releasing material belongings. But I’ve come to realise that when one relationship ends a new one is nurtured. For my own personal growth and spiritual development, I must from time to time move certain persons out of my life if I wish to excel and move to a greater level of excellence. Author Iyanla Vanzant wrote, in one of her books, that people come into our lives for “a reason, a season or a lifetime”, and we never know which one it will be. We may move physically or emotionally away from a friend or relative, but that does not mean we let go of the love we hold in our hearts for the individual.
During this season of Holy Days, find ways to clear out the clutter in your home, workplace, yard or wherever else needs cleaning. The sense of release in clearing and getting rid of what’s no longer essential is amazing. Being organised and having less mess allows us to make space for the things or persons that matter most in our lives. Work on de-cluttering your life. You’ll be amazed at the freedom and easefulness which comes with taking the action of clearing out. It creates a simplified lifestyle and opens the door for better things or people to come in.
Each one of us can find ways to eliminate clutter in our daily living. We can be the instruments of change that we envision ourselves to be – doing whatever we can to move ourselves and the Anguilla community forward to greater heights.
May The Most High’s Divine Grace continue to bless all of our lives and encourage us to live with much less and share more of what we have so graciously received! Wishing Season’s Greetings and God’s Blessings to One and All.
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Kay M. Ferguson is a free-spirited writer who composes word sounds to inspire and uplift humanity. She is passionate about sharing her contemplations on various subjects to raise conscious awareness in the Anguilla community and globally. To link with Kay, send an email to anguillawriter@gmail.com or “i-nect” via social media at www.facebook.com/kaymferguson.
