Finding Joy and Gratitude in Less
Our feature
story this month, “The Joys of Minimalism, A Rich Life with Less Stuff,” by
Carrie Jackson, struck a chord for me as I sit to write this month's letter
with a dumpster in the driveway
A broken water
heater led to the lifting of what were discovered to be asbestos floor tiles in
my basement. After all the water was cleaned up and the water-damaged mountain of accumulated “stuff” was identified and isolated, I had the
idea that I would hold off on having the asbestos abatement done until I was
able to go through the rest of what lurks beneath the main living area in my
home.
That was late
March. Springtime came
and my dreams of dutifully clearing what amounts to a lifetime of clutter
dashed away like a firefly on a summer night. I’ve had this dream before. You
may know the one; “I’m going to go through one box a week and make those hard
decisions of what to keep, give away or discard.” It sounds good, but for many
of us, we never quite get around to it.
While the
presence of the dumpster is a good indicator that there’s been some progress,
there’s still a long way to go. My favorite advice from the article is to find
someone who is not attached to all the memories that have been stored away in
the dark to help. As Jackson shares, unbiased guidance can help diffuse any
emotional conflicts that may arise from the attachment we feel to our stuff.
As I think about
the memories attached to those hidden away belongings it brings up a feeling of
gratitude. I am grateful that I still have the memories in my heart and mind
when so many are afflicted with the horrifying effects of Alzheimer’s or
dementia. And this says nothing of the burdens these diseases lay on patients’
loved ones.
Last month, in
partnership with our parent company, KnoWEwell, Natural Awakenings
sponsored a screening of the new documentary film, Memories for Life,
Reversing Alzheimer’s. The film features hope-offering stories of the first
patients successfully reversing their symptoms using a personalized health
protocol developed by neurologist Dr. Dale Bredesen.
The accumulation
of Bredesen’s life’s work presented in the film offers compelling evidence that
those in the early stages of the disease’s progression have much to be hopeful
for. If you or someone you love falls into this category, I’d recommend
checking it out. Starting on November 15, 2023, the film will be available for
streaming at MemoriesForLifeFilm.com.
May you be
blessed this holiday season by the creation of joyful memories with your loved
ones, far and near.
Peace,
Maisie Raftery, Publisher
