We have only a handful of days left in the apartment, and in the city, and I feel the ticking of time with each passing day. This morning I awoke in a bad mood. I have a mountain of stuff to discard, and was quickly disheartened and overwhelmed. I thought about burying my head under the pillows and enjoying the weekend, but the truth was that I was not much enjoying the weekend anyway with this dark cloud hovering. So we just got right to it.

I purged myself of all the beautiful stationary I have collected over the years. Japanese pens, British cards, Swedish-Australian notebooks. All of it is being donated to work — I’m sure my public sector colleagues will appreciate it. It’s cathartic to let these things go, but it also makes me wonder why I didn’t use more of it to benefit someone else when given the chance. There are plenty of people who should have received a lovely, handwritten note from me… I hope I will remember the next time to pass on the joy and appreciation I have felt.

Along with stationary, another thing I tend to accumulate is books. I always imagined that when I ‘settle down’, I will have all of my collections in one place, displayed in my own personal library. I don’t know when that will be, and these books are taking up a lot of room in other people’s garages. But after recently purchasing a Kindle, I have decided to only retain the hard copies of the books that have incredible sentimental value for me and donate the rest. Sometimes you just have to be practical.

Become what you’ve always wanted to be.

I have been reading a few things lately that I’ve enjoyed for varying reasons:

• You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One!) by Jeff Goins.
  The quote above really resonated with me. I am making a more conscious effort to become what I have always wanted, but also to project it. I’m gonna fake it until I make it!

• Across Asia on a Bicycle by William Lewis Sachtleben and Thomas Gaskell Allen.
  Talk about epic adventuring! My adventures without arranging visas or hassling with foreign currency pales in comparison with these adventurers.

• The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
  A rather dark commentary on two personalities who seem to bring out the worst in each other. It’s beautifully written and I kept hoping for the characters to turn from their obsession with money, status and the never-ending party.

I’m looking for some more suggestions for good books to take on my career sabbatical with me. Do you have any recommendations for me?