Yesterday, I threw out all my QSL cards

Thousands and thousands of them.They were taking up way too much space and energy just sitting there in their pretty little files, all sorted by countries in order by prefix. Prefixes that keep on changing as the world changes.There was a time when I chased DX and I used the cards to get my DX awards. The awards that now sit in a desk drawer somewhere; I don't remember where. But since Kate and I are going through the house -- all of the house -- and getting rid of that which is no longer important, the awards will go out too.That isn't something that is derogatory to DXer's, by the way. Chasing DX is a wonderful aspect to this hobby and one that consistently draws in new members to our fraternity. But I don't chase DX anymore. I haven't for years. And years.That doesn't mean I won't answer QSL cards; I have plenty of those sitting on the shelf for direct cards and a nice account at Global QSL for the bureau cards.But one of the practices we need to have in this hobby is to stop considering the past as present and retelling the stories of what happened 20-years ago (or a story from 50 years ago I was told yet again last night) like it was yesterday. And still relevant. Mostly, it isn't relevant. We need to look forward to opportunities and not the past to cling to the status quo.We've changed. The world has shifted under our feet and the past is no guarantee of future success. The hobby needs to change. It is time we got rid of all that dusty stuff that represents holding on to the past so we can build the future.I started with my QSL cards.