Years have passed and the treasures have accumulated. There is a box of paperback books from ten years ago. Here's a bag with an long-unfinished latch hook rug.
We find a roll of blue string. We haven't used it in the dozens of years that it has been in the basement. In fact, we didn't even know it was there, and we certainly can't remember why we have it.
Our goal is to put these unused items into the hands of those who can use them. We pile the books, craft project and blue string into a box and drop it off at the collection point for our favorite charity's resale shop.
Fast forward one week later. We haven't missed any of the items we passed along until we wrap a gift in special paper. We suddenly found a use for the blue string we no longer have! Blue string would have been perfect on the package!
Veteran organization coach and consultant Terry Prince identified the Blue String Paradox. As she explained the concept to me in a recent email:
The paradox is that you don't know all the opportunities available to use an item until you let it go.
Have you missed items you gave away or discarded? Help us understand how you felt by using the Post a Comment section below.
Congratulations Ellen--you just keep moving on. I don't even know how to set up a blog or if it would be useful for me. We have a great website to learn so much about Alzheimer's programs and services at www.alz.org/midlands.
Posted by: Rosalie Shepherd | February 14, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Our old cell phone used to be REALLY BIG; it was probably 8" long, not including the non-retractible antenna, which added about another 6". The phone was thick too, about 2" x 2 1/2". I'm really sorry that I donated it to charity. I think of all the fun that I could have had playing pranks and showing it off to my friends! However, I am comforted that I still own a rotary dial phone that still works. It even works when the electricity is out, unlike my modern phones!
Posted by: Brenda | July 03, 2008 at 12:18 AM