There has been a lot of tragic loss during the recent bushfires that ravaged much of Australia, including the Southern Highlands.
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For some people there was time to pack up their most valued possessions and evacuate before the fires took hold in an area. Meanwhile others have experienced total loss - photos, family heirlooms, valuable possessions, memorabilia - and sadly in some cases even life.
In the aftermath of the tragedy it has been interesting to learn about several people - although reeling from their losses - who are looking at lightening the load of possessions they carry through life.
It is clearly not an option for many, but it is interesting to note that some are reviewing life as they have known it, to follow a different path. Some are choosing to not rebuild, but instead travel, others are opting to relocate to smaller premises. The tragedy and loss that has been foisted upon them may well lead to new and very different valuables in the form of life experiences, adventures and treasured moments kept safely in their memories. They will no longer need greater space for storage.
While this loss is not something any person would want, it may lead to a different perspective, and hopefully rewarding outcomes for some. It also poses a question for many others to ponder - are our possessions weighing us down, or restricting our ability to experience more in life?
I know I own treasured items, that I have never used. I keep them safe because they were given to me by a loved one. That is partially the reason I don't use them - I don't want them to break. I keep them to hand down to my children one day and I am certain they will also never use them.
Then there are the photos - more than I will ever need and more than any of my friends or family would ever want to flick through - some so similar in content that I have to question my repetitive photographic logic. I must admit that photos are perhaps my most valued material possession - pictures of loved ones and experiences are a great jolt to the memory - but I'm certain I don't need quite so many.
The biggest problem is that I would struggle to know where to begin culling many of these items I have so carefully stored. I would be devastated if they were lost, but I wonder just how much they are weighing me down or holding me back from adventure and making more memories, without the baggage.
