Döstädning Part 2

It’s been 19 months since my first post on this topic Döstädning.

I had no idea where the practice would lead. Today, as I look back, I marvel at how far we’ve come, not just with the piles, but with life. At 59, I feel reborn, or at least renewed.

That day, I was sitting in a corner of our home, situated in a northern suburb of San Antonio, amidst the warm, cozy glow of memories sparked by the surrounding objects. At 3000 sq ft the home was large but felt unbearably small, stuffed to the gills with things inherited from several branches of our family. By that time, I’d arranged interesting paths through the rooms, each twist and turn a vista of carefully arranged heirloom furniture, cherished mementos and souvenirs gathered during someone else’s life, broken toys waiting for a spare moment to repair, books reaching out begging to be read and photos, heaps and heaps of photos, taken during several generations of our family. As Jon said, it was like we had curated and were maintaining a museum. Which was true in many ways. I had even settled on the idea of sharing the space as a creative retreat, which in the end was not really practical in a family home.

But change has come! And most of these things are no longer with us. We have been relieved of the burden. And though painful, not a bad thing really. Honestly, we were overwhelmed. This change has forced us to focus on what really matters to us in this particular moment of time. To reduce, distill, clarify, limit the number of thoughts clamoring for attention, the ideas begging for expression. A pruning, if you will, to restore the vitality of life.

So, today, Valentines Day 2026, I’m writing to you from Carmel Indiana, from a small 1100 sq ft apartment in City Center – near the heart of the Arts District. I’m excited about the prospect of our new life in this new creative landscape. And I’m excited to see the projects that result while carrying this lighter, more refined load of inspiration.

And so, as we unpack our treasures and establish ourselves in our new home stay tuned as we bring more stories to life.

Peace be with you.

Amanda