For most of my life, I was taught that some things were too good for everyday use.
The china that is waiting for the perfect holiday gathering.
The embroidered towels in the guest bathroom that have never actually dried anyone’s hands.
And the perfume that I’ve been saving for a special occasion that keeps not happening.
I waited for a long time.
And one day I looked around and realized — I was the only one waiting.
The candles hadn’t been lit. The perfume had gone flat. The cashmere sweater still had the tags on it. And life had been happening anyway, every single ordinary day, without any of the good stuff in it.
What I didn’t realize then was that all of those untouched, carefully saved things were a form of clutter. Not just the kind that takes up space in your cabinets and closets…
But the kind that quietly weighs on you.
The guilt of things unused. The pressure of things waiting. The slow, nagging feeling that you’re not quite living the life all those beautiful things were meant for.
Maybe you know exactly what I’m talking about.