By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings
Last week I opened a trunk that had not seen the light of day since the late 90s. In the spirit of moving houses, packing and sorting, I opted to take this trunk with me as I traveled down to the south shore of Massachusetts.
I opened the trunk to find pictures, letters, Sabena airline tickets, and an unopened shower curtain. And I share with you, dear Joyful Musers, the joy of doing off site sorting and unpacking.
I muse joyfully on the delight there is in being fully present to sort through pictures of 90s friends, 90s travels, 90s life and hair. I laughed and shared long lost memories with friends, we remarked on how beautiful we looked, how fresh and young.
And, fortunately, I had access to a fire pit on the beach where I scorched letters and pictures and, yes, Sabena Airline tickets. My retreat of memories provided freedom to let go of a lot – I saved some things but realized that enough is, really, enough. I’ll never think of those letters again, reading through so many was glorious but no need to save. I am not opening up a Susan Dromey Heeter museum any time soon.
It is funny what we save, what seems so important to hold onto. It’s equally important to let go, to release, to exhale and lean into the space that opens. And, for me, it is so helpful when I’m away from my digs, when I’m somewhere so simple I am not distracted by plants that need watering, by unwashed windows, by a dog that needs walking.
I muse joyfully when you go through a trunk, you’ll find the experience magical rather than tedious, joyful rather than burdensome. And if there is a firepit nearby? Oh, use it, dear musers, use it. I promise you’ll bask in the embers of a life well lived, in a trunk well used, in memories that will live on in you.
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.