The process of unpacking and organizing is an interesting one.
I'm finding that while unpacking I'm taking more time to actually look at the things in my boxes and reflecting on how they fit in my life.
It's interesting to open those boxes and determine where their contents should live in the new house. Some of them end up being repurposed and used in ways I would not have originally planned, but that end up fitting perfectly.
And, as I've been opening boxes and putting things away, I've also realized that a few of them may never be truly "unpacked."
Instead, some will end up hidden in a closet or tucked under a bed.
What's in those hidden boxes you ask?
Old photos, papers and awards from my childhood, high school or college; mementos of my life. Things I want to always remember, but don't necessarily want to display.
The keepsakes in those boxes represent moments that shaped me into who I am today. Moments that I am extremely proud of, experiences that I've learned from and relationships that have come and gone.
I've thought about trying to better organize them. I'm sure there are tons of great ideas on Pinterest. But I'm not really creative enough to turn them into a coffee table or anything like that.
So they will stay in their boxes.
I'm realizing now just how grateful I am that I have those boxes to open up and help me remember the milestones in my life.
As I grow older and make new memories that have to be stored, I'm finding that there's just not enough room in my brain to capture the details of all of the moments from so many years ago. The tangible items in these boxes help me remember these moments more vividly.
I think back on how many times I've pulled out these boxes from their hiding places in my apartment over the last few years.
And I realize that it was not nearly enough.
In this day and age of so many distractions, never-ending To Do lists, and constant mental stimulation from technology, it can be difficult to give any of our mindshare to quiet time and reflection.
So, I'm making a renewed commitment to pull my hidden boxes out more often and sift through their contents.
I'll maybe even shed a few tears of nostalgia and laugh at the photos of me in giant glasses and 80's hair.
I'll smile at the girl I once was. Awkward and shy, not at all athletic, kind of a nerd, but generally fun to be around. Or at least that's the way I remember her.
And I'll think back on the collective experiences and choices that have shaped my life and take pride in how far I've come.
I am sure most of you have similar boxes hidden away in your homes, condos, or apartments. I recommend that you take the time to pull those out too at some point in the near future.
Look back at those memories and smile, wax nostalgic, and be proud of who you are and where you came from.
All too often we get caught up in the hard stuff in life and lose sight of the fact that it's the little moments that make it great.
And if you take the time to truly reflect on all of your little moments, I'll think you'll find that they create a pretty amazing story.