The First Steps

Now that my Masters capstone project is done and presented I finally feel I have enough free time to set aside to really start sorting through possessions and letting go. As stated in my earlier post, I'm ready for this change, but I also realize it will NOT happen overnight. Honestly, I'm not sure I want it to. It can be overwhelming to let go of things and there are still things I am having a hard time getting rid of. Especially when it comes to my clothing. (More about that in a future post...)

Here is my final living room closet.

Before Sunday, I had started sorting through a few things in my living room closet. There was not a lot in it. Mostly my husband's shoes and several jackets. I had one spring jacket, a rain jacket, winter coat, and another coat I'm planning on selling. I decided to keep all of that. I also have one winter coat that I used when I was pregnant with my son, and since I'd eventually like to have more children I held on to that as well. What I did manage to part with were the bundles of scarves and hats I had knit or collected over the years. It was a little hard to get rid of some of the scarves that I personally made, but I realized that they could eventually be used by those that need them more than me or just someone who would actually wear them instead of putting them in a basket somewhere. Even with the amount of winter accessories I have I still typically wear a specific hat, a specific scarf, and a specific set of mittens or gloves based on the weather. It is silly to have more, right?
























On Sunday I took the dive into my bathroom. I thought it would be rather overwhelming, but I found it pretty easy. I ended up with three small garbage baskets full of stuff that was old and/or never used plus an abundance of stuff to go off to St. Vincent de Paul. It surprisingly felt therapeutic as I dumped old make-up from my high school years and lotions that were only used 2-3 times. Why had I held on to this stuff for so long? What was the point? My husband helped clean out the bathroom and I think he was even surprised how much stuff he held on to that was pointless, old, or broken. The results were a few cupboards and drawers that still seem a bit full, but other closets that are almost completely bare.




I thought the emptiness would somehow feel sad, lonely, or boring. However, I feel the opposite. I feel free! I feel free of clutter. I feel free to find what I actually need without digging through a bunch of garbage. I was happy to find a new place for medications that are further from little hands that are getting more and more curious and opening more and more cupboards. I also felt good about all the things I could give to those less fortunate. God has provided so much for my little family. It is time for us to give back. Money and things truly do NOT buy happiness.