Lately I have been living in a movie set; this is how I would describe the way my house appears now. In the last several months it has been repainted, redecorated and redesigned. It no longer resembles the home Stephen and I lived in for the last 16 years. This is because we have followed the instructions of our realtor to make it appear more attractive to a buyer.

The walls are nearly bare; most of the rugs have been taken up; almost all the books and videos together with their bookcases are in storage; and as well we have eliminated most of the incidental tables, shelves and small furniture. There are no longer any surfaces I can use as places to put things. It is relatively easy to get rid of any daily clutter--either I throw it out or find a place to hide it away.

The house does look lovely. All the surfaces gleam, and I try to keep them that way. I am getting lots of exercise bending down to retrieve my appliances from the cupboards that used to hold other items now stored elsewhere. I spend time and energy running up and down stairs hunting for things I need and can't remember where I stowed them. This is a very strange way to live, yet it is also an amazing experience in simple living.

Both Stephen and I are beginning to feel as though we might prefer to reduce the number of objects we will have in our future home. We hadn't realized before how much we could live without. We are talking about keeping possessions to a minimum once we unpack. I have also noticed that as I live in my movie set, I am growing in my appreciation for what I do have, and that may be the best learning experience of all.

May you live and learn with joyful acceptance.

Blessings and Best Regards, Tasha Halpert

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