Why have chapters and why don’t I close them? These are the two thoughts I’ve been mulling over as I am preparing the way for new chapters for myself. I feel like I need to examine why I am always hesitant to close a chapter, despite being eager to open new ones. I seem to want to carry things forward instead of just saying “I’m done”. I feel I’m ready to find ways to close some chapters that I have left open, making more room for new chapters.
One of the reasons I don’t close things is because I tend to rush on to other things. I also fail to define what makes something complete, or if not complete, done. Even things I have completed, I don’t always define as done, so they hang on. I’m ready to lighten up a bit, close some chapters, and decide what gets to move forward, and what is done.
This isn’t easy. I have made notes for myself outlining the steps to take as I examine different types of things. That way I can be a little more dispassionate and much more realistic. The notes make it easier to evaluate each thing.
Chapters in Paper
As I cleared out the contents of a two-drawer lateral file cabinet, I realized that much of it was there because I was unwilling to just close a chapter. Sure there were things like nicely mounted samples of techniques for classes, but there were also old calendars (saved for the pictures), trend magazines, patterns I mean to rewrite, and stuff I’d completely forgotten about.
I ended up saving half a box of the mounted samples. Another half box of files of documents I need to have. I now have a full box of the empty files and hanging files harvested. There is also a half box of stuff I need to give some additional thought to. I have nearly a box of paper for shredding, and a wastebasket of paper to recycle. Nearly everything I ended up getting rid of exists electronically anyway.
There is still a second file cabinet to go through. That one has more stuff I need to keep than the other one. Plus the files in a credenza and assorted other file-containing drawers await my attention.
Chapters in Knitting
I have recently gone through projects that sit unfinished, so I probably only have a dozen of these. Okay, maybe 24 unfinished projects if I’m completely honest. While running this morning one unfinished project easily sorted itself out. This is what the project has held for me:
- great design
- bad memories
- yarn I love but is more than five years old
This is why the project has to go:
- this great design has sat untouched
- it has bad memories
- the yarn is more than five years old
I have always been stalled by the fact that it is a great design and thus I failed to see the bad memories. It wasn’t a hard decision once I looked at the project in it’s entirety.
I’m going to be applying a lot of “does it spark joy” to things in the next few weeks. The photo I’m posting today is me dressed for the FIDM graduation. I have on a new dress, paired with the shoes I got married in (1988). Not shown is the handbag I carried that was purchased in about 1996. Definite joy for me in all three pieces, so carrying things forward can be the right choice.
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