Addiction

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, construct a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Robert Heinlein

I’ll come clean. I have an addiction issue. If there were a rehab for my certain affliction, I would sign up in a heartbeat.  It consumes a part of the time, effort and energy I could wield for other matters. More important and significant matters, yet here I am, knee-deep in it and unable to get out.

I am addicted to books.

My local library had a book sale recently and I carted home all manner of tome. Gardening, medieval history, current best sellers, survival guides, etc. I feel as if I do need to know how to do everything, and the handiest way to learn is still, despite Kindles, and iPhone apps, A BOOK. For $3.00 I filled a big grocery bag. I carefully placed the precious volumes on the remaining shelves of my upstairs office/studio/library and diligently planned to read them at some point.

“At some point” is rarely soon. “At some point” may mean not at all. “At some point” is flagrantly vague. “At some point” seems to be a good indication of a strong potential to gather cobwebs and dust.

So last weekend, I packed up all my books into two very large bags and this week will cart them to my local thrift mart. I now have two perfectly clean shelves and although I love books, it is indeed quite a lovely thing to look at them and see nothing.

Addictions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are lethal. Some are expensive. All are unnecessary.

Keep track of your particular additions over the next week. Is there a necessity that really is not? Clear, clean spaces invite positive energy into your life.

Clean your shelves…..

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