Greetings All ~
I'm moving. Not far, just downsizing.
The decision came with a lot of considerations. One is that I have a ten-room house all to myself now that my grown sons are building their own nests and lives. A lot of space to maintain for just little ol' me.
The other consideration is to get rid of "stuff." I'm certain I'm not the only who sat in their home during the pandemic, looked around and thought, "I have too much stuff!" I've heard stories about long donation lines at the Salvation Army and GoodWill centers; that trying to sell valuable items on Ebay and Craig's List is a losing battle. The market is glutted.
I figured I'd give a yard sale a try. I'd never really done one. However, I was gifted with the help of my friend, Beth, who is expert at this. She had slowed her roll with her online sales business, so she was grateful for the chance and space to participate. Also, yard sales were not happening during our lockdown here in LA. So maybe there was a backlog of yearning for that traditional Memorial Day weekend entertainment?
We took a chance and did we have fun! The process was smooth, the weather was great and sales were good. Watching people taking away things that had been taking up space and gathering dust to find a new home and purpose was more satisfying than I had ever imagined. We banked some good coin, too.
One of the great beauties of a sale like this is the lack of attachment to the outcome. Knowing that what's left over will be tossed or donated meant I didn't really worry about the price. Telling people the stories of where the items came from was a lovely connection to the new owners and a sweet way to say goodbye to inanimate objects that had more meaning in the past. Making sales where everyone felt like they got a great deal (and adding bonus giveaways) was a win-win for purses and hearts. It was a day of smiles.
I am fortunate that I am prosperous enough to not be overly attached to things. But more importantly I'm hoping to be able to apply that yard sale attitude of not being attached to the final outcome of plans or interactions. The flexibility provided in the present moment is relaxing when compared to the rigidity of "have to" or "can't." And, of course, there's the fun of just seeing "what you can get."
We humans love a game. With no worry of the final score it's a win-win for the heart.
All Good Things,
VickyJap Dharam Rose