This is my 3rd move in 3 years. I’d planned to keep the beautifully-crafted sturdy wooden doll house I’d ordered for my daughter as a “gift from Santa” when she was 2 years old. Maybe one day I’d gift it to my grandchildren. When I lifted the lid on the bin, it felt like one more thing I’d have to haul along to the next home. And who says there will even be grandchildren. Maybe there will be grandcats instead 🤷♀️
I asked my daughter if she thought we should sell it. She said yes. We brought the bin upstairs and assembled the doll house. My daughter put the floors and roof in place while I thoughtfully furnished each room. She positioned the doll family: Grandpa in the car leaving the garage, doll kids at the computer and TV (classic teen move), Grandma in the kitchen, Dad at the front door (making sure Grandpa doesn’t ding the car on the way out of the garage), Mom in the garden (probably doing Qigong). The little house came to life.
It sold within a few days… to a preschool! My daughter and I delighted in knowing children would enjoy every tiny chair, bed and family member. I could see the parallel play happening around the sweet house.
I stayed home when the rental agent toured 3 different families through our beautiful sanctuary of a home located on the Bow River. Every day, I savoured this place, like Frederick the mouse in the book: taking in every colour of leaf, every sparkle of sunlight on water, every cloud and tree and eagle. So I could take it with me to the next house.
It would be easy to try to stay, to hold onto this place. But it’s time to move along, and, as Buddhism teaches us: no clinging.
The third couple to view the home would be the ones to take it. I knew it as soon as they walked in. I’d seen them the previous day walking in front of the house and then along the path behind, stopping to consider the home and its magnificent view.
As I chatted with them during the viewing, they shared how they would live in the house with his mother –she’d take what is now my Qigong room with the ensuite and the door to the deck over the river– and her brother, a young chef, would take the walkout.
It felt right. Like the doll house, all spaces coming to life and enjoying the energy of purpose.
I learned years ago through feng shui to “wake up” items you haven’t used in a long time. Run your hands over the covers of books or open them up, dust off items or use them. Everything is energy, and that energy comes to life when we interact with these items.
The house, our sanctuary on the river, will enjoy the energy of new family occupying all of its spaces. And our new home, which has hosted a single occupant for some time now, will come alive with my daughter and I enjoying all it has to offer.
What can you revive, let go of or pass along for others to enjoy?
Much love,
Stephanie
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Stephanie Hrehirchuk - Author 