Why Clutter Can Be Cleansing.

Clutter of the mind leads to clutter in a closet or life.  Eventually, that clutter has to be cleaned out for a person to move on productively. Greeting and acknowledging that clutter can be as exciting as anticipated Christmas or holiday gift left below a tree and its outer adornments to the recipient or just as disappointing when it doesn't turn out to be what Santa promised as the pretty papers and ribbons are torn away.  

The intention of this blog and its purpose came to me right after my mother passed away very suddenly during my family's process of going through her things, the household goods and other material possessions that comprised her life.  To process my own grief, keeping a journal of observations and feelings seemed to help while dealing with the loss of someone who was my teacher, my champion and advocate; but who'd sunk into a deep depression as she grew older. Her sudden death from a rapidly progressing form of ovarian cancer surprised and shocked us all.

The prognosis at first when my brother called me while she was admitted to the hospital was a "blockage to her esophagus."  He expressed grave concern so I started checking flights back home to the Midwest as I'd moved to the Southwest to transition into retirement and embark upon a late life career transition from working in corporate marketing services back East to pursuing studies in nonprofit management. Active retirement had always been in my life plan. My mother had always encouraged me to follow my dreams, reach beyond the small town where I was raised and go to college to study the arts later. She also was the parent that fostered my own love of the arts and artistic abilities.

Hence it seemed important to capture observations and random thoughts on my mother's life after she left this earth and went on to the next place. These random thoughts were assembled into a journal after she died, then a number of scribbled thoughts on paper morphed into entries. Many thoughts were put down while cleaning her closets and drawers in our family home while reminiscing over the past to try and understand her life better and why she was taken so rapidly by the God she cherished, studied and deeply worshiped.

Workshops taught by renowned writers Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron helped me in clearing more clutter in the words and thoughts, putting them into coherent content that might have some connection to others who'd had similar experiences. This collection of words, memories and feelings is intended as a celebration and examination of how grief, your love and memories can all run together into a river of emotion and examination to lead to a better way and understanding. Thank you for being part of this journey.  Your thoughts, feedback and kind comments will be welcomed.  And perhaps we can cleanse some of your clutter as well.