Wednesday morning I went to meet a high school classmate also in Beijing now. We haven't seen each other for over 40 years. We all have become an old version of ourselves.
As she showed me around her apartment, I noticed some unpacked furniture. She told me they were pictures packed during the apartment remodeling.
The sign of this packing brings back the memories of an old family acquaintance. They moved from New York to Florida in 2021. We went to see them right before the move. They packed plenty of collections and treasures collected over 30 years of their New York life.
I thought at some point in our lives we'd better start downsizing and focus on enriching our life's experience. These collections are 身外之物 (shēn wài zhī wù): materials not inherently ours, that we will have to relinquish eventually. We are like travelers, getting lighter as we have covered a large part of our journey.
Of course, the collection over one's lifetime means also emotional value, apart from monetary one. I once kept the clothes that my children wore when they were babies. Understandably, it's a challenge to part with them.
Every time I am facing the dilemma between keeping and letting go, I always find some comfort and confirmation in considering what Mao Zedong left behind for his family. Nothing in terms of materials.