Something about the New Year always makes me want to clean. I want the fresh start, the clean slate.
I don’t do resolutions. Instead, I clean out closets.
When we left to visit Mike’s family for Christmas, our plan for when we arrived home was to clean out the house and the garage. When you live in a 1300 sq ft house, it is easy to have too much stuff – and ever since I came home from my last road trip, I just wanted it gone.
I had not planned on coming down with the flu and pneumonia. Or as I have called it for 9 days now, Flumonia.
It took almost a week for my fever to break, which left me not able to do much of anything. Now I finally have no fever, but cleaning still is hard. I can’t stir up dust because it sends me in to coughing fits. My energy level is still so very low.
I couldn’t take it any more though. I had all these plans! Ugh. I hate that about being sick – the fact that all your plans must come to a stop. So much to Mike’s surprise, I ended up cleaning out cabinets in the bathroom yesterday. (No more than 20 minutes!) Later in the day, I had him rearrange our entire bedroom – two dressers and a wardrobe, all shifted places.
Today I tackled a bedroom closet. It is the “electronics” closet, and a lot of my business items are stored in that place. I removed everything I could in a matter of minutes. I had Mike come sweep for me so that the dust bunnies from the deepest corners wouldn’t attack me. I pulled everything out.
Then the heartache started to hit me.
I noticed twinges of it as I cleaned out bathroom cabinets yesterday and made myself toss things like partial cans of hairspray I hadn’t touched in at least a year or two. Today it was different though. Stronger. Bigger.
As much as I love the feeling of clearing these things out, it HURTS.
I’m looking at things I just “had to have” for my business that I never even used. Gear that I’ve replaced, but that I somehow can’t seem to make myself get rid of for some reason. Because honestly? My 10 year old camera will never come out as “backup gear” any time soon.
I’m envious of people that can just get rid of things. I wish I could say I was one of them.
The worst part is the guilt over wasted money. Money that can never be recovered.
Destroying the Power of Guilt
I’m staring right now at this adorable red camera bag which I have never used. I have owned it since 2010. It has moved from room to room, and even from our old house to our new one. Then it took up residence, made a space for itself on a shelf, and I let it live there.
It feels like so many dreams that have come and gone. Maybe that is why I find it such a struggle to release them?
No more. As cute as it is, it has to go. I don’t use it. I won’t use it. I’m not even sure if my camera would fit in there.
It is representative of so many things in my house right now — and I’m formally giving myself permission to NOT feel guilty about moving it OUT.
My donation bag is growing. I’m trashing & recycling as much as I can. I’ll probably sell a few of the photography items. Maybe even the red camera bag.
Permission to Clear Out the Old
When I’m cleaning things out like this, I sometimes have to ask Mike to come sit with me as I do it. I need him there to give me permission to get rid of things. I’ll hold things up that are perfectly good, but that I never use. He tells me to let it go.
It sounds so silly to type it out, but sometimes it is the only way I can get it done otherwise. I need permission.
In case you are like me, I’m giving you permission as well. I know you feel like you’re being wasteful – but really, it is more of a waste to live with all of these things. Clear out the things you don’t LOVE to make room for the things that you do. Get rid of the clothes that are too small. Once they fit again, you would rather have the latest cut & style anyways. Get rid of the clothes that are too big, you don’t want to give yourself permission to regain weight that you have lost. Get rid of business gear that you simply do not use, whether it is product samples or old marketing pieces, or a giant box of business cards that you’ll never touch again.
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris
30 replies on “Permission to Clear Out the Old to Clear a New Path for Yourself”
Permission to Clear Out the Old to Clear a New Path for Yourself http://t.co/ltiGn27klF
@christinebpc OMG, you poor soul – flumonia! I hope you’ve your strength back. *hugs*
“I donβt do resolutions. Instead, I clean out closets.” <– @christinebpc is wise! http://t.co/0hqshoYojz
It’s not hard for me to get rid of things… 3-4 moves in 16 months… yeah… I don’t need stuff. And if it’s perfectly good, then it’s perfectly good for someone in need.
Before this last move, we gave two rooms worth of furniture to a retreat center in South Dallas. We loved that stuff, but we moved to a smaller house and there was no room.
And they were so appreciative.
It’s just stuff. It’s good to get rid of stuff… especially stuff you don’t need and doesn’t serve you.
Michelle Olshovsky liked this on Facebook.
Sandra Arellano liked this on Facebook.
Steffani Frideres liked this on Facebook.
Amber Quiroz liked this on Facebook.
Krista Manus liked this on Facebook.
I have been on a purging of junk also while fighting a bad upper respiratory infection….i choose not to do resolutions because they add to my stress level….
Teatching my boys to pay it forward.. they said let’s have a garage sale so we can buy more stuff with the money we make ..
I replied wouldn’t it be more beneficial to give our stuff to someone who truly needs stuff…
Only thing better than room in the closets is knowing we helped others.
Anel Lestage liked this on Facebook.
Jennifer Labbee liked this on Facebook.
I give stuff to my neighbors via our Buy Nothing group. People ask for what they want, it feels better because you know it will be used (probably), and you can get stuff too if you want. Maybe a group near you?
Can you guys just come get rid of my stuff for me? π So much easier when there is no emotional attachment for me. I’m simply too sentimental. Or guilty about being wasteful with money. Either one. I am ok donating things – it just makes me crazy when I haven’t used things at all.
Oh don’t get me wrong ..the process is very hard for me… i think well maybe I will need this one day or awe this was his shirt when he was 2…..
I have to get in a zone to purge out stuff…
I’m giving myself grace, but as a whole? It needs to GO. I’m seriously considering taking over Mike’s much smaller closet space to force myself to have less.
@marginfades @christinebpc You both might enjoy Apartment Therapy’s January “cure.” Kind of along the same lines. π http://t.co/MMT32jEShb
Permission to Clear Out the Old to Clear a New Path for Yourself #catering #wedding http://t.co/LzQyR2OUvx
I told my friend this was the year I was going to gain back my house and get rid of stuff and work on projects that need some TLC… we still have blue tape on walls waiting to be painted 8 years later. She too is doing this and suggested that I tackle one section, one room – once a month so that it doesn’t get too overwhelming. I tackled both bathrooms over the weekend. Threw out expired meds, 4 hair brushes I never used and make-up that looks like it’s been with me from the 80’s (it hasn’t…) – I donated 4 bags of clothes to goodwill last week and I already have 2 new bags ready to go. It felt good. I’m already excited to tackle the next section of the home and that’s closets. π
Oh – and I remember when you got that cool camera bag. I wanted one too. But I’m pretty sure if I did get one mine would be in a corner right now too. π
Kathi Cook liked this on Facebook.
Gretchen Tremoulet liked this on Facebook.
Kayla Keenan liked this on Facebook.
Erin Barfield liked this on Facebook.
RT @christinebpc: It is so hard to move out things that you don’t need from your house. I’m giving you permission to do it. http://t.co/1vβ¦
. @threlkelded @christinebpc yes! I found this last year, and customized a version to work best for my needs. A great concept.
Don Courage liked this on Facebook.
Greg Washington liked this on Facebook.
Theresa Sullivan liked this on Facebook.
Brown and Blue Photography liked this on Facebook.