Moving is my tenth circle of hell. I hate it. Right now, I’m in the midst of my second international move in two years. (Yes, it’s as fun as it sounds. . .) The list of things I abhor about the process is lengthy, but the experience always reminds me of the power of elimination. Too often in our lives, we try to make improvements to problems by adding to the equation. We supplement and ask what more we can do. In doing so, we forfeit the magic of less.
While moving causes me much angst and consternation, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that every time it happens, our family receives two valuable gifts: creative opportunity and simplicity. I try to keep this in mind while I gnash my teeth
Creative Opportunity. Moving is a forcing function for creativity. In the years we are in transition, due to the logistical process of military moves overseas, most of our earthly belongings get packed in boxes that we don’t see for about three months. During our first summer in Europe, my kids spent the first three months entertaining themselves with boxes and endless rolls of packing tape. Their creations were epic: unicorns, grain elevators, rocket ships, and countless stuffie abodes.
When the house is empty, my kids complain about being “bored” from time to time. To which I reply, “Great! Find something to do!” As a parent, I’ve always viewed learning to leverage boredom productively as a valuable life skill. I see too many adults who can’t tolerate it. They only know how to escape. It makes me quite sad, really. Think of all of the creation that we miss out on as a world because people don’t know how to exist in unstructured space. Screens aren’t on the menu for boredom solutions at our house, so when they’re feeling sorry for themselves, my kids know they have one choice: sulk and perpetuate their own suffering or make their own joy.
Simplicity. This year, a friend asked me how I felt the day our boxes were loaded onto the moving truck. Without skipping a beat, I said, “Sad--but relieved. It’s really nice to be unencumbered by stuff!” The overwhelm of material things is one of the perils of abundance. It takes a concerted effort to curb accumulation. Spending an extended period of time surviving with a limited number of items always proves to be a valuable reminder of how little I really need (and what I actually use). Moving forces me to go through everything we own on a regular basis and do a massive purge. Part of my keep-or-toss decision-making framework is, “If I haven’t used this since the last time I packed it, why would I move it again?” Sure I miss sleeping on my mattress, but having fewer things to pick up? That’s a win.
I don’t wish the stress of moving on anyone, but creative possibility and the freedom of simplicity are things we could all use more of. Give yourself the benefits of moving without the headaches and hassle. Create enough space so you can let yourself be bored. Determine what’s essential. Then, cull the rest. The next time you face a quandary, don’t default to addition. Instead, consider what you can take away. Don’t underestimate the power of less.
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