“All my things were injured in fire. I feel happy»

All our lives

we copy things, sincerely considering them extremely important. But when we lose them forever, it turns out that things are not value, but only a reminder. Blogger Gabi Khinniliff recalls a recent fire and what lesson she removed.

Nothing foreshadowed trouble. We left home for Christmas, but friends called us and told us that the neighboring house burned down. Fortunately, the neighbors themselves were not at home. Fire did not touch our house, which cannot be said about smoke. I was always surprised when I heard about the damage from smoke. Now I know what it is. Previously, smoke was associated with me with a bonfire or the smell of a burnt toast, but this. At first, only firefighters in gas masks can go upstairs. Then industrial fans are used, and it still seems that the caustic one, which causes a spasm in the throat, drank things forever, and every millimeter in the house covered the thin layer of soot in the house forever.

For several weeks, we constantly threw something away or sent for cleaning. Washing did not help: smoke sat down every thing through and through, and leaving them at home became dangerous for health. Metal and plastic are resistant to smoke, which can not be said about soft objects: sofas, carpets, toys, clothes, books and other things accumulated over many years.

We celebrated this New Year in the style of extreme minimalism. But what is surprising: I felt happy. I am sure that we were really lucky: no one was injured, we did not have to run out of the house in the middle of the night and, unlike unfortunate neighbors, we were able to return home quite quickly.

In addition, we learned how generous our neighbors and friends who gave us a roof above our heads were organized, organized a cat’s search and found it. How did we underestimate the kindness of people! We remembered that there is so much good in the world. But most importantly, we got a chance to start a new life.

Forced thoughts about what to leave and what to throw away help to realize how few things we need

Now, more than ever before, far from the hustle and bustle, empty communication on social networks, rumors and gossip. My only New Year’s promise is to monitor the serviceability of a fire alarm that could save us, if we were at home during the fire.

Today I have only clothes that I took with me on a trip: an evening dress and things in which it is convenient to walk with a dog. But I don’t worry about this. Clothing is just things, even if important memories are connected with them. If you have to throw the books, I will miss them the most. But, which is much more important, there will remain inside what I read in them. I feel a strange feeling of lightness, as long ago, when I was 19. Then I traveled with a backpack for six months, and when I returned home, the things that I missed began to seem unnecessary.

I have no doubt that very soon the house will be filled with rubbish again – the whitish instinct of the creation of reserves is too strong. But forced thoughts about what to leave and what to throw away help to realize how few things we need and how much we depend on the habits, emotions and confidence that someday the thing can come in handy. I first understood people who sell everything they have, and start a new life.

I walked around the house with a broom, sweeping glass fragments, and thought that now I know the answer to the question: “What would you save during the fire?»I would not risk it for things. Would save people and cat.