Two nights ago I finally did a huge burn session of outdated papers and files from around 40 years and now feel so much lighter, and optimistic about my future. This photo was taken of the fire. You can see the layers of papers. This is just one session of many. As the smoke swirled and drifted around me and throughout my yard I could feel my soul and spirit lightening. It was so freeing. I can step forward through life without that emotional (and physical) burden holding me down.
My life has always seemed to generate an overabundance of paperwork. Everything I do entails documentation. I was in the military and in spite of the Paperwork Reduction Act that was printed with almost all documents, I accumulated mounds of paperwork.
Everyone said keep this record, keep that. You never know if you need it. And on and on. To what true purpose???
I kept credit card statements, orders, receipts, letters, evaluations just to name a few. I tried to reduce over the years but it seemed to never be enough.
In the last year I made good progress clearing out. I had a few burn sessions. I didn't want to take the time to shred that much.
Last week though, I finally made it to the finish line!!!! I got rid of papers that documented my adult life to date. At least the ones that are not needed for anything but ego in case somrone should want to document my life. Not much likelihood of that.
I can say that the important information of my past is in the most important place and that is my memory. No one else really cares. I don't like to regale others with my wonderful deeds in the military, nor how great I was in college, etc. My relationships really only matter to me and many of those need to stay in the past. The important relationships are ongoing and the people that are part of my life now are the ones to put effort into now. I am all about going forward in my life not looking back.