SKAGIT VALLEY WRITERS LEAGUE
  • Calendar/Events
  • Join SVWL
  • Published Section
  • Members
  • Contact
HOME

Letting Go Of Your Home by Linda Moore Kurth

3/23/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
True story: A woman with whom I was acquainted had reluctantly put her charming home up for sale, knowing she could no longer maintain it. But it didn't sell and she took it off the market. "Is the house not selling because I'm holding on too tightly?" she asked herself. That evening, she went to her bedroom. "I've so enjoyed this room," she said aloud. "I want to thank you for making me feel so warm and cozy here. Now I release you for someone else's enjoyment." The woman proceeded to go from room to room, thanking each one for the enjoyment she'd received, and releasing it for someone else's pleasure.

A few days later, a neighbor visited her. "I've always admired your place," he told her. "But I couldn't afford to pay the realty fee. Would you consider my offer?" His offer was indeed acceptable to the woman, and so she gratefully sold her house to someone she knew would love and cherish it.

I've had to face the selling of my home, into which I've poured my heart and soul, more than once. The story above has stayed with me and inspired me during those times. In this excerpt from my journal, I write about the time I left my beautiful home in Bend.

I plopped down in exhaustion on the living room floor, alternately gazing at our beautiful tongue and grove cedar ceiling and the mountains turned rosy by the waning sun. I said goodbye to the Elfery, my magical playhouse under the stairs. After taking one last heart-broken look around, I called my dog Tillie. We climbed into the van stuffed with houseplants and other fragile items and headed for our new life. Just before the sun went down, a brilliant full rainbow appeared ahead of us. I thanked God for giving me a sign of hope.( from my unfinished memoir, Crazymaking)

Much has happened to me before and after that move. I've had to let go of two husbands as well as houses. But I've found joy in the spaces between. I had a son. I had the chance to build my dream home. I've traveled. I found out more about myself. I developed a deeper faith, learning that I couldn't always control my circumstances. As much as I like houses and all that goes with them, I've come to understand the transitory nature of things and the enduring nature of family, friendship, and love.


2 Comments
Heidi M. Thomas link
3/23/2014 03:58:30 pm

This is just lovely, Linda! It's funny how we become attached to possessions sometimes, but homes also are associated with friendships, and that's the hard thing to leave.

Reply
Jaana Hatton
4/23/2014 02:57:54 am

How odd that I happened to run into your story just now, as I am preparing to let go of this house and location I've called home for six years. Initially, eagerness and excitement were the feelings filling my mind - now it's turning into anxiety, the reluctance to let go of familiar things. For me it's not so much the material things, but as Heidi pointed out, the friends we also leave behind. You can replace and old couch, but not so easily an good relationship.
Thanks for sharing, Linda.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Skagit Valley Writers League

    A group of writers perfecting their craft.

    Archives

    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    Ann Bodie-Nash
    SVWL Anthology Book
    Tales For A Lazy Afternoon

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Calendar/Events
  • Join SVWL
  • Published Section
  • Members
  • Contact