So I seem to be on an interesting path to self-discovery, which is somewhat appropo/useful, as I am thirteen months away from the big three-o, an obvious [albeit relatively arbitrary] milestone into “adulthood”. I’m glad it is still a bit off in the distance, as I think this process is certainly underway, but not in any big rush.
Recently, I was struck by the stunning realization that I am NOT my innate tendencies. I collect accumulate all sorts of “useful” detritus. As a crafter and an artist, I typically justify all these bits and pieces as something I *could* use or possibly something I *might* need. And I absolutely could/might. BUT not only does having all this STUFF cause me undue stress [one - bc of the clutter and the need to organize it all and two - bc then I have the sword hanging over my head of all these uncompleted, if even started, projects] but it may actually hinder my true talent: off-the-cuff problem-solving creativity. Example: perhaps I will need to collage something but maybe in the future I won’t be able to afford to go to the craft store to buy materials. I most certainly have the make-it-work attitude to use whatever means I DO have – dollar store materials, thrift store finds, old clothes, old newspapers, cereal boxes, whatever. In fact I probably thrive in the unusual circumstances. And so… a massive cleaning project [physical, mental, and emotional] is underway.
“To become a success at what they did, they had to shed some part of their own identity.” Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, p.266