The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
My wife and I are sitting down in the garage watching the neighbors, new and old driving pass the house and our garage sale signs. We are having a "best offer" sale as we rid ourselves of many different personals which have supported our life in Hilo for the past 25 years. We are "best offering" these items so that they don't remain attached like Velcro from our past. Yes there is some reluctance yet not much as they have to go one way or the other. Life changing event and it is okay. We sit at the tables loaded with stuff that meant more in days past and we pay more attention to the birds, our "chirper" just outside continuing to spiritually entertain us. I will keep the memories and let the memory makers leave to create with others hopefully what has been created with and for us. That which we will not trade or sell is the programs and which was freely given to us and continues to do so.
We will touch those who come to meet and see with our recovery and we know how that works. Time and life is changing. Keep coming back. Best Offer. (((hugs)))
Oh I absolutely love going to garage sales and chatting people up and buying a treasure or two but since I tidied up my house and downsized and donated a bunch of my unneeded treasures to thrift shops that I knew would help people, I dont have anything left to donate really. But garage sales are so much fun you meet some of the nicest people
And no matter how you part with your stuff, it feels so good to have your house orderly and tidy. I guess that is the good and positive aspect of my OCD. My house is very orderly and clean and tidy LOL
Enjoy the sale and I hope you sell some treasures and meet some really cool people
Awesome perspective Jerry, and I couldn't agree more.... "cleansing" is an important and healthy tool, whether we are talking body, mind, soul, and even "stuff"..... as you so rightly point out, it is time for some of that 'stuff' to make new memories for someone else... I have held a couple of garage sales over the years, and care more about so-called important stuff going to a good, deserving, and/or needing home - than I do about the few dollars that we get for our things. For example, I had an extra bed (Queen boxspring and mattress) when I was moving three years ago, and I looked it up online, and figured I could quite easily get $150 for it.... It was part of my weekend garage sale, and the first person coming to look at it was a single mom with two little ones, and you could just tell that it was important to her, but she was concerned as to whether she could afford it. She sheepishly asked me if I would take $100 for them, to which I replied - how about $50?
She was thrilled and kept her dignity. I was thrilled and knew they were more important to her, than if I had received the $150 from someone who is putting them in a fourth bedroom.
Al-Anon has helped teach me such things, along with wise old teachers like yourself.
You are a good man Jerry - proud to call you my friend
Tom
__________________
"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
Thank you brother and I take that compliment from some man who is knowledgeable about the subject. "How about $50.00???" Now why does that sound so Canadian Guyish? LOL ((((Hugs))))
Love, love, love the share Jerry! I have been trying to do some major down-sizing as my goal is to move from 'the big house' to the 'little house'. This is a massive effort of shrinking almost 5,000 square feet into about 2,600...I have always been a self-professed pack rat and have emotional memories tied to many, many things...like you all, when I consider the action of giving new homes to others to enjoy, it makes it easier to sort, donate, sell, etc.
There is a part of me which wishes I had a deadline looming as I do procrastinate at times...it is what it is. What really helps me often as I consider the effort, the process and the end result is One Day at a Time as well as Keeping it Simple. May your garage sale bring you tons of peace, friends, memories and less stuff!!
(((Hugs)))
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
My wife and I are incorporating our programs into this effort and I like it as it has a strong "giving" character to it that doesn't feel so much like the "enabling" characteristic we unconsciously used before program kicked in. To give without expectations needing to be fulfilled leaves so much weight out of the picture. Just got thru reading about that from our literature this morning on the way to my meeting. Thank You HP!! (((((hugs)))))
IAH that's another teaching post from you...keeping it. Wish you back what you wished us.
-- Edited by JerryF on Wednesday 19th of December 2018 04:01:18 PM
canadianguy, that was really nice what you did for that lady...I don't know you very well, but I can get from the inflection of your post that you really enjoyed helping that single mom....and what goes around, does come around....and I agree with you about Jerry being a good man...yep....
