How did decluttering help me to remember what is really important?

I keep asking others to show up and be vulnerable and over the next few months I am going to do the same. I hope that this motivates and inspires you and your journey.

As many of you may did, I took on a bit decluttering during the holidays.?

I found one of my dad’s books he read (he passed away 14 years ago). He dated all his books. This was dated exactly a year and one day before I was born.

I cried. Tears of joy.

I needed to see this book without realising it, as it's topic is exactly where I am now - thinking more deeply about the philosophy of connection and belonging.

Thinking more deeply about being human.

I didn’t know him as well as I wanted to. He died too young for me, before I found my journey.

But then will everyone say that about those passing?

The book and memories of him, made me think, do I care about him more now than when he was alive?

I know the answer.

I wish I could ask him – what he thought about the book?

How did it reconcile philosophy with physics and religion?

What book should I read next?

How did he feel during the rapid partition of, and migration to Pakistan – riding on the top of those trains crossing the newly made border?

I’m ready now for those conversations.

I can remember the missed opportunities to talk to him more deeply, I can see them. However, I don’t regret them. I wasn’t ready. I was too engrossed in my feelings and thoughts at the time and spending too much energy hiding myself.

I can learn from the missed opportunities, and now look for the opportunities to connect with the world in front of me, not behind me. I can reflect on his values and live through them. He always gave time for everyone, supported those in need and by the end was running his own business – supporting underserved parts of the community.?

Dad I’m proud of you, what you did and what you represented.

I have no advice for anyone in these thoughts,?

I know, my real decluttering isn’t the stuff in my attic or in that dusty box.

It’s about leaning into the values that serve and rejecting those that don’t. And reflecting on how these values have been influenced by those that inspire me, including my father – Imdad. It's about re-cluttering my mind with the memories of the past and letting go those that are not useful.

This deeper level of decluttering is what this book showed me.

The book has moved from the dusty box to my desk. How could I let go of such a powerful object? A medicine I didn't know I needed.

There's no 'call to action', or an ask to 'please share' or 'please sign up to my newsletter'.

I want to be a leader in being vulnerable in the hope it may inspire your journey.

Thanks for reading.

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