Twelve years ago it was clothes … now days it’s my whole HOUSE ….
Liberation!
At least that’s what my mind calls it. I’ve been going tough my closet and getting rid of ANYTHING that doesn’t fit/has a stain/looks frumpy. You do that all the time, don’t you? Or don’t you?
I’ m the first to admit that sometimes it’s hard to donate that great-looking, swingy dress that looks smashing with those gold sandals. How many parties and barbeques did we attend together? What doesn’t compute is that it’s not as flowy as it was 15 years ago.
15 Years?? What kind of fashion maven am I?
Fashion for women is a very touchy thing. I still have my mother’s mink stoles in the front closet that she wore 50 years ago. I can’t think of a party or dinner that they would fit in, though. I still am a fan of shoulder pads in women’s sweaters, but the look I get when I wear any that are left in my closet is worth ripping them out. I am not a fashion dinosaur — I’m more like a make-the-most-of-your-bad-purchase kinda gal. Some things I thought would look great once I got them home looked just as “iffy” as they did the day I plunked them off the shelf. But I stubbornly hang it in my closet hoping they will look better.
They never do.
Now, men — in an odd, pretzel-logic sort of way, this goes for you, too. I mean, how many wrenches does one man need? How many fishing lures? Bottle openers?
And clothes? Shoes? Bling? I am all for the odd piece, the one-in-a-million outfit. I am for keeping shoes that are comfortable and jewelry that is inherited. But between those two places is a bizillion pieces of collectables that would be better off being collected elsewhere. Think of all the little kids who would LOVE to start their fishing tackle box with one of the eight identical lures you are holding onto. The unemployed woman who would look smashing in the shirt and pants that haven’t fit you since 2001.
Perhaps there is a deeper psychological issue here, one that my little fried brain can’t digest right at the moment. I believe we are always “spring cleaning.” Our collections define us, mold us. If we don’t get out from under our old trappings we can never evolve … never follow our beautiful, wandering, growing nature.
There is so much out there for us to experience. So why not? Keep a bit of the old, opt out for the new. If you haven’t worn it in a year, toss it. If you haven’t fished with it in a year, stash it.
Quit cluttering up your todays with yesterdays.
It’s a fact of life. You can only use one wrench at a time. Having six of the same size doesn’t increase your chances of fixing whatever it is you are fixing.
The moral of the story is true.
Once you thin out your earthly possessions, you will be amazed at how the clutter in your head thins out, too. You wear what you really enjoy wearing — what really looks good. You catch fish with the reliable lures your daddy gave you…you don’t need to keep the “maybe” ones that have cluttered up your tackle box for so long.
There is a double meaning somewhere in here as well. But I’ve no time to think about it. I see those dreadful, adorable sandals that pinch my feet sticking out from beneath the bed.
I’m sure there’s a bitchy boss out there who would love to wear them.
I have this image of a bitchy boss wearing ghostly chains attached by a wrench necklace. LOL
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She DEFINITELY would need to get rid of that outfit, then!
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I’m working on reducing the number of clothing I feel “ required “ to keep. It’s a slow process. I recently donated a shirt I wear a lot and thought was cool because I caught an accidental glimpse of myself and thought Yuck. That shirt is awful. 🤪
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Sometimes that’s painful. I’ve had a few favorites that I just had to part with to make room for new favorites. It’s even harder these days because I don’t like looking in the mirror alot to begin with!
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This is such good advice. Am trying to follow a site called The Minimalists for extra help. I don’t have clutter, but lots of stuff stored away in the storage areas in my house. Yikes! And even though there is no clutter, I still have way too much stuff even if it doesn’t show. It feels like a weight. Time to let go and make it easier to fly. Thanks for your great post.
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Thank you, my friend. It’s always hard to part with things that bring back memories, but as you get older you find your memories aren’t there anymore! The universe keeps the energy, anyway.
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Parting with clothes that bring back great memories—even if they haven’t fit in 15 years—is always such a bittersweet battle. You captured the truth so well: once you finally clear out the physical clutter, the mental lightness that follows is unbeatable. I recently cleared atleast 50 books that I haven’t touched for 5 years and it felt like a burden gone out of the door. I didn’t even say goodbye to those books which gave me anxiety everytime I thought to sell them or give someone else.
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Wow — me too! I got rid of a lot of books when I moved from my bed and breakfast to my current house (been here 20 years) but hadn’t thinned out since then. So a few weeks ago I packed two bags of good books that I KNOW I’ll never read again and donated them to Good Will. I mean, that’s where ~I~ find books, so why not share?
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You’re right and we donate the books, it not only feels light but also good… That good feeling lightens heart 😊😊
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We’re one on that!
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Yes we are ☺️
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😂 I think I’m worse than you, I’m hanging on to clothes 20+ years old, why?
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Just think of the college kids that might fall in love with them hanging in Good Will too? Share the memories! Ha!
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Lol this had me laughing! I agree with you! Hard to let go but a necessary thing sometimes!
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When you hang up your t-shirts too (like I do) there’s not a lot of room for clothes I constantly slide to the end … again. I need to do this again. Since I don’t work in an office anymore, why am I keeping so many dress pants and tops?
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okay, so I went through earrings the other day… I wear the clip-on type… and I have some screamingly cool pairs. But I do agree, after reading this, that I should most likely get rid of the wee guns in the holsters, as I am most likely NEVER going to EVER wear them (not that I ever did) wait… did I just say, never…
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I bet you typed this and ran to your jewelry box and put them on just to prove a point…heh ….
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This was a fun read…and motivating as well. Thanks. Happy Weekend.
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Oh, you too, my friend!
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I just cleaned out my basement. I keep up with my closet, but I’ve been getting rid of things throughout the house. It’s like spring fever in the fall.
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Part of me says don’t bother, let my kids deal with it all when I’m gone … then I remember the THREE hoarder houses (not mine) I cleaned out in my life and cannot stand the thought of my kids thinking what ~I~ was thinking…….
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