Nearly departed

~ a love letter to self, and some others

Unpacking memories is finding clarity in the clearing-out and packing-up process.

Moving out isn’t just about boxes; this one goes deeper.

Sometimes, leaving a place is how you come home to yourself.

The past few days, I’ve been clearing decades of accumulation; some mine, some inherited, while packing up the condo I’ve called “temporary” for the last ten years. It’s a seniors‑oriented building, precisely the opposite of what I ever imagined for my future. And yet, I’ve learned more about loss, memory, and identity here than I expected.

Each item I packed stirred a story; my dad’s old records, forgotten letters, a faded photograph of him smiling on some summer afternoon. Discarding what no longer fits feels almost disrespectful, but it’s also necessary: letting go of things, and spaces, opens up room for the next chapter.

I’ve discovered that “departing” carries many meanings. I’m literally relocating, yes, but I’m also saying goodbye to that decade’s version of myself, one defined by routine visits with my dad in his declining years, then his quick passing, which was not one of caregiving or pain or agony. I’ve chosen to enjoy my new relationship with my dad, the different one since he’s been gone, and for that 10 years Iived where he did for his last 15 years. So, it’s a fitting time for a move, for change and a renewed sense of purpose too, though that is a challenge to describe.

There’s a peculiar kind of melancholy in all this. Not despair, but something quieter, more reflective. It’s the ache of closing a door you didn’t realize was still open. But with each box sealed and each room emptied, I’m more ready to step into the blank space ahead, one I’ll shape not out of memory, but out of possibility.

Wrap‑Up: what I’m taking with me

• Space matters, not just around you but within you. Clearing physical clutter is helping me rediscover some emotional clarity.

• Departure can be gentle, a small, deliberate act that redefines who you are, rather than snuffs out or diminishes who you were.

• Grief and hope can co‑exist; they’re faint companions, like sometimes catching someone’s gaze from across a room.

In letting go, I think, of something I was far more attached to in ways I didn’t fully understand until this week, as the outcome of a long process unfolded, finding the denial period was over, and I’ve found something unexpected: lightness to replace the heavy …

Take‑Away for You

Are you carrying a memory, a space, or an item that’s lingering longer than it needs to? Maybe it’s time to give it a gentle farewell to create a little more room for what’s next.

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