Not especially fond of birds, I never purposefully looked for a bird in my life until a few weeks ago when I went on the weekly birding walk at the Desert Botanical Gardens.
After all, I want to take full advantage of my membership in the Gardens. It didn’t take long for the experienced birders to notice I was a newbie. I was the only one not wearing binoculars. I guess I expected the birds to sit nicely and pose on the ground.
I went again a few weeks later. Around my neck were my 40-year-old wedding-gift binoculars. They are the heavy, long, black binoculars with thin straps. I can hardly see a thing. After the birders explain how to properly spot birds using binoculars and after cleaning the lenses, I still can’t see clearly. The lenses are out of whack.
“Well, that’s it,” I told the group. “I’m throwing them out.”
Several birders suggested I set them on the trash can, and maybe someone would pick them up.
“One of two things will happen,” I said with conviction. “One, someone will take them to Lost and Found, where the binoculars will stay because I’m not going to claim them, and now the Lost and Found is cluttered. Two, someone looks around, doesn’t see anyone and steals them,” I continued. “Then, they discover the binoculars are defective and set them down. Someone else steals them and theft goes on all day. You wouldn’t want that would you?”
Guilt works. They are now relieved I’m throwing them away.
So, you see, it doesn’t matter the binoculars were a wedding gift. I look at them as something that no longer works. The good news is I have another pair that do work, and I can identify Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Lesser Goldfinches and the ever-present Verdins.
Nancy Nemitz, Create the Space Professional Organizing LLC, has been organizing disorganized people since 2004. She can help you make decisions about binoculars or whatever else isn’t working in your life. Send an email to nancy@createthespace.com to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to discover how she can help you.