I LOVE this silly quote!

I have had a sticker collection since I was a kid. I still have the legit old style photo album with the pages I had to pull back the cellophane from the hard cardboard, insert my photograph (sticker), and carefully place the cellophane back over the sticker, trying to avoid any air bubbles from getting trapped and skewing how my stickers would look. It is full of my prized stickers that are still stuck to their backing, and which I slowly cut around the border of the sticker before placing it in my album. I have treasured that album all my life. Over the past 51 years of my life, I continued to collect both random and super special stickers that represent the places I have visited, the politics I follow, the beliefs I have, and the things I am interested in. They fill a metal bin that I keep safely stored.

When I read this quote it reminded me of how, not only do I store my precious stickers away, but I store away and rarely use my favorite clothes, my favorite travel mugs, my favorite blankets, and on and on. I know I got this from my Mom. In going thru her things after she passed, I felt sad to go thru various kitchen items that she had stored to keep them brand new, instead of using them to enjoy while she was here. I figure I will use my precious things for “special occasions.” And yet, I never define those “special” occasions…

Lynn and I loved to collect souvenirs – not just from trips, but from every day activities. We would collect souvenir shirts and mugs, as well as special treats, wines, fun socks! Lynn was so good about wearing clothing items that showed where we had just been, or immediately digging into cookies she had found interesting and tasty. She didn’t know it, but I would feel slightly horrified that she was not “preserving” these precious items!

After she passed, as I was going thru her clothes and deciding which ones to keep, I knew exactly which ones were important to her and loved by her, because she wore them frequently. And, I knew the significance behind her affection for these items. If I passed, I think it would not be obvious which clothes I considered “precious” because they are kept in the back of my closet, clean, unused, and unloved. As I set aside Lynn’s clothes, I recognized that she did not leave anything behind that she was waiting on a future, important event to use. I felt such lightness in realizing this, and it has made me reflect on my own use (or non-use) of my precious things. In contrast, as I went thru my Mom’s things, I felt sad that she stored items that perhaps she felt were too special to be used for her daily life.

As I go through the process of getting rid of all items (mine and Lynn’s and my Mom’s) that do not deem needed in my present and future life, I will also try to adopt the mindset that I WILL happily and whole heartedly and guilt free use all the “precious” items, since every day going forward I classify as a special event! The reality of Lynn passing when she was only 50 years old feels more and more significant. And yet, she accomplished SO much and touched so many people in her life! have an entire additional year that she had. I appreciate her example of living a life not wasted, of getting to the “finish line” knowing you gave it your all, and I hope to truly live the same way. “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a ride!'” Hunter S. Thompson

I will try NOT to adopt the sentiment in one of the responses to the above quote, “No bury them (my stickers) *in* my casket with me bc I don’t want them to get ruined”

Original posts:

https://x.com/ALadyNamedKatie/status/2051314129382563906

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZm-WiOnedK/?img_index=3