Surrounded by things that make my heart flutter.

Just the other day,
I spent the morning at my parents' house with my mother, organizing the contents of the garden shed and taking out the trash.

My father used to be the one who did the gardening, though he hasn't been able to since his health declined.

There were just so many tools for that kind of work.

Back when he was healthy and active, he was a reliable father who even tore up the garden himself to pour concrete and expand the parking area when we children got more cars.

It's a waste to keep letting things we no longer use clutter up the shed.

I want to clear it out, move the tools from the main house into it, and make the main house feel spacious too!!

I wanted to wait for the cool autumn weather, but

“It seems like there’s no autumn this year, just straight into winter. Since there was so little rain this summer, we might get heavy snow this year...”

People around us are whispering such dreadful weather forecasts, so...

It’s not something that can be finished in a single day.

Thinking that, the two of us—mother and daughter—got up and spurred each other on, even though it was still hot outside.

“I want to prepare so that I could die at any moment now, and live the remaining ten years or so peacefully and happily.”


“I want to be free from attachments and take care of my own affairs.”

My parents are in their early 60s, they still have so much ahead of them.

As their child, I don't want them to talk about 'the next ten years' or anything like that.

It makes me feel lonely when they say things like that.

I have seen more of my parents, siblings, and acquaintances of my own generation pass away than most people my age.

I have also seen more of the people and things left behind than I have.

And as someone who has been tormented by people who, after dragging everyone around them into their mess, ruined themselves with greed and attachment and left a mountain of baggage and problems for the next generation to deal with.

My parents have finally, if not entirely, been freed from various entanglements recently.

I suppose it is only natural that they would start thinking this way at this point in time.

Life is finite, and age has nothing to do with that.

You cannot truly enjoy the present if you are burdened by worries, anxieties, and things you have to do.

Clear away those heavy feelings and the past along with your unnecessary baggage.

Since my mother, like me, finds healing in creating a home,
I want her to live her days with a light heart, surrounded by things that spark joy.

Things in the house that helped with daily life over the years but are no longer used.

Gifts from others that were barely used.

Things bought for children and grandchildren...

It is truly troublesome because both mother and daughter have a tendency to get emotionally attached to things.

Moreover, though I am her daughter, my mother has good taste and treats things with care, so everything is as good as new and lovely, making it feel like a waste to throw them away.

Disposal is not progressing.

But we cannot keep saying that.

“Only the living can enjoy material things; it is a happy thing to be able to live surrounded by what you love.”

These are the words my mother, who also loves things, gave me when I was reflecting on having increased my possessions again.

Because that is how my mother thinks, I want her to spend her time with a light heart, surrounded by the things that spark joy for her now.

Having said that,

disposing of things also takes time and money.

With my father's care to attend to, she cannot easily manage it herself, and yet she feels bad about relying on her children...

Because my mother says she will hire a collection service, worrying unnecessarily as always.

Hearing that, I, with my stingy nature, feel I must do it myself...

Self-hauling to the waste disposal site.

It is a strong ally for moving, items that are difficult to dispose of, and large-scale processing of bulky waste.

I have been very well taken care of by them at various turning points in my life.

It might be easier to ask a professional, but it also costs money.

I am truly grateful for this.

There were many things that were hard to let go of, but once they were gone, I felt like my heart became lighter than the mass of those items.

I intend to keep working hard before the snow season arrives.

After all, the best way to treat things is to use them until you feel they have fulfilled their lifespan, and when they are worn out, to discard them with gratitude.

I think being able to do that is the best.

However,
in this life, which is long yet short for one person, there probably aren't that many things you can use up completely.

Lifestyles and tastes change rapidly, and the tools we associate with change as well.

When I was young, I bought things casually, prioritizing cost-performance over whether they made my heart flutter.

As a result, I was surrounded by things that didn't spark joy, and I would often stop using them and leave them to gather dust.

Through lifestyle changes and moving at various turning points in my life, I have gone through many painful decluttering sessions, and my way of interacting with and thinking about things has changed.

Now, I carefully select and welcome things that make my heart flutter,
and I make it a point to use the things I cherish most.

Every day, I am grateful for the wonderful things that bring comfort to my life and color to my heart.