Get Rid of It!

Okay, so I'm still learning this blog thing. By the time anyone finds my site, or I get enough hits where you can find it on the web, most of my posts will be old. Who's going to go back through six months of old blogs reading everything you've posted. So I've decided it won't matter if my theme gets a little off track.

For today's topic, my thoughts wander to, when does one become "old", act "old", look "old"? For me it started in my 30's. My friend and I were at the movies and we wondered what makes us look old. Do we look this way. Looking down at my large purse balanced on my knees, I'm like, "yeh, we look old."

Sorry, but I grew up in a practical era. Purchasing items for need, not want. My purse had to be neutral, which means I've only bought either black, brown, tan or navy. Couldn't be so big you'd develop back problems carrying it, but not so small as to not be able to carry needed items. You know, gum, tissues, nail clippers, makeup, wallet, pens, candy, mail, bills, book to read at lunch, house keys, car keys, poop bags for the dog, an apple for a snack at work, um, what else? And you thought Mary Poppins' bag had a lot of stuff in it?

Speaking of purses, you had to have shoes. Woo-hoo; let's see they have to match so that would be, oh yeah, black, brown, tan or navy. I am a walking fashion faux pas. I'm not sure I was cool when it was even my time to be cool.

You know the day you realize your old, is the day those around you have no idea who you're talking about. It used to be funny when I was the one who was 20 and my co-workers were ancient, somewhere around 35. But one day it happened to me. I was talking about Ann Landers, when my co-worker had a deer-in-the-headlights look and said, "who?" I'm thinking, "Come on! It's Ann freakin' Landers!!" Everyone went to Ann for their problems or at least read her column so you would know your problems weren't as weird as those writing to her. That day was a crushing blow to my ego.

Now, my last blog said to accept thyself. But it's also okay to have a goal. We shouldn't just throw in the towel and give up. But I'm not making this blog one of those improve yourself, reach for the stars and be a better person. We are already okay the way we are. Just do try new things for the fun of it, the joy of it.

Somewhere I read a column about getting rid of all the things that you think you need to do, read, be. Took me a while to understand that, but looking around the house realized how many of the "classics" in paperback were just waiting to be read for the last 15 years. If they haven't been read by now, get rid of them. Go to the library if you get a urge to read "Wuthering Heights".

How about those clothes that you know you'll just squeeze into if you just lose about 20 pounds. Get rid of it! There are so many charities in need of good clothing. It's a shame to have them hanging around collecting dust and just making you feel bad because you haven't lost that weight yet. By the time you do, is it something you really want to wear anyway?

What else is lurking in those closets? Probably magazines you want to read, or you at least trimmed out the articles so it wouldn't take as much space, but I bet you still haven't read them. Christmas cards and pictures of people's kids that have been sent to you. You feel guilty to throw them out, don't you? Wait, you could make a great album, and put each family in chronological order so you could thumb through them years from now. Will you? Get rid of it!

And speaking of getting rid of things, dump that mental baggage, too. Those regrets long harbored, the mistakes, the I should-ofs, and the only if I could-ofs. It's okay. Like a potter, it has shaped us into the weird and wonderful person we have become. I only mention about getting rid of those things that we're saving hoping to be the person we should be. Instead, let's save the things that celebrate the person we are. It's okay if you haven't learned to play the piano, or written that novel. I bet everyone has someone that thinks the world of you, just the way you are right now.

Wanted to add some inspiring quotes. Since we're just starting this journey, today's quote is: "Forty is the old age of youth, fifty is the youth of old age." Victor Hugo. Let's celebrate our new youth!