Stories · Curiosities · Questionable Ideas · Rather a Lot of Imagination · Farah Sam · Author & Creator ·
The Boxes and the Recycling Plant
Mum and Farhaan load up the car with the mountain of empty cardboard boxes to head to the local recycling plant. A practical, slightly gritty winter chore becomes a satisfying milestone of clearing away the old and making room for the new.
THE STAR FAMILY BLOG
Farah Sam
12/19/20211 min read
Diary Entry: Friday Zen level: Satisfied and lighter Chapters written: 1/2 page (written in the car) Current status: Enjoying the sight of a completely clear, empty hallway
The great box-mountain kingdom has officially fallen. For the past two weeks, our hallway was nearly impassable, blocked by a sprawling fortress of empty cardboard boxes, packing paper, and tape. Today, determined to reclaim our entrance, Farhaan and I spent the morning flattening, folding, and stacking the cardboard until it was neat and ready.
We loaded the back of the car until the cardboard was pressing against the windows. Yasmeen had looked up the local Brussels recycling plant hours and directions on her phone. "Mum, make sure you take the specific ID card," she warned. "Belgian recycling centers are notoriously strict about municipal boundaries."
Farhaan, wearing his thick winter coat and boots, worked alongside me with cheerful, witty banner, throwing the flattened cardboard into the massive recycling bins with dramatic flair. "Think of all the space we're clearing for baking supplies, Mum," he grinned, already planning his next almond cake.
Back at home, Yasmeen had kept Ariadne cozy in our warmest room, wrapping her in her favorite soft velvet blanket. I had stocked her low snack corner with bananas, water, and yogurt before we left. Yasmeen told me that Ariadne had started to cry suddenly when she got hungry, but she immediately found her yogurt and spoon on the low table, ate it independently, and spent the rest of the time peacefully spinning her toy pram wheels while Yasmeen watched over her.
Closing: In the evening, I stood in the empty, clean hallway, looking at the smooth wooden floorboards stretching toward the stairs. I took a slow, deep breath, feeling the emotional space that comes with physical clearing. I sat on my mat, brought my soles together into a gentle butterfly stretch, and leaned forward, letting my back open. I closed my eyes, took three deep breaths, and let my mind settle into the quiet, clear space we are creating.