So, this weekend I finally started on a project I had been putting off. My Clothes and shoes! I knew this was going to be hard. Earlier this year I had gone through and got rid of everything too big for me, but I still had way too many clothes. But clothes are sort of my weakness. I am no fashionista, but I love to shop and get a good deal and tend to keep clothing items way too long! First thing, even if it is a good deal, if you don’t need it, it is still spending money you don’t need to. Ok, but back to letting go.
Since I hit a major weight loss milestone this weekend, I knew it was time to really pull everything out of my closet and get rid of most of the clothes I have basically been storing for the last couple of years. I started first pulling out things that were too big for me, that was easy, that is the fun part of losing weight, getting rid of stuff that no longer fits. Then it was time to really dig in and get rid of the stuff I loved, but never wore.
I am lucky that I work in a relatively casual office, so I can get away with wearing dressy casual clothes. Business attire is not really needed daily, maybe only a couple times a year for when clients come into the office. So that is where I started. I pulled out all my business attire and started going through it. After my first pass, I had one box of donations and oh yeah, I’d say a good 60% going back into my closet because I might need to wear them at some point. Yeah, that wasn’t going to work.
Next, I tried everything on and that eliminated some things. But even then, there were a couple items I loved that were still a little too small or were things I never wore. I so wanted to hang onto these items. I had basically convinced myself that I would be able to wear them at some point, so why throw them away. Why get rid of that dress I loved and used to look good on me, I could wear it into the office at some point. I was down to some basics that fit me now and looked good on me and a handful of my “I love items,” that were either too small or things I had not worn since I moved into my place almost 2 years ago. I put these items aside.
After I got through a couple other categories of clothes, going through the same process, I moved back to my set aside items. I so wanted to just shove them back into my closet and call it a day. It wasn’t that many items and I knew it wouldn’t fill my closet, but that was totally against my new journey. So even though I loved that dress I wore to my friend’s casual wedding and it would work for a dress up day at the office. I had to remind myself that her wedding was 7 years ago and I have never worn it since. Sure, I kept telling myself I would wear it again, but truthfully, when was that going to happen. I had been to multiple weddings since that one and it was either too small or I simply wanted to go out and pick out something new for those weddings. I had a couple days that I could have worn it into the office, but ended up with something more comfortable. Basically, I had opportunities to wear it and I didn’t. So, I stepped back and asked myself why I really wanted to keep that dress.
I realized that I loved the dress because I remember feeling great wearing it that day and having such an amazing time at the wedding. It wasn’t actually the dress I loved, but the way I felt in it that day. But, by getting rid of that dress, I was not going getting rid of those memories, just a dress I had let encompass those memories. Those memories would not disappear if I donated that dress.
We must remember that many times we allow ourselves to get caught up in the memories of an item and not the actual use of the item to us now. It is very hard to let go of those items. But I ask that you take a step back from the item and really think if you actually need or will use that item in the NEAR future, or are you purely holding onto it because of the memories. If it is just for the memories then I suggest letting it go. Let it go to someone else who might have an actual need for it and know that you can help them make memories with it. For me, I took a picture of the dress and added it to a folder on my computer of my favorite things.
If it is something that you just really cannot get rid of, then you can also take a piece of that item (such as a baby blanket for your only child) and incorporate it into something you do use all the time. Wrap it around a vase you use weekly for flowers to brighten your room, or turn it into a pocket square for your husband’s favorite suit, so you both see it all the time, or simply sew it into the inside of your favorite dress you wear all the time. The key is that if you are going to alter the item, do not let it become another knick-knack taking up space somewhere. Only keep it if it can truly be altered into something you use all the time and it is something you truly cannot get rid of. Really make yourself examine that item a couple times over a couple days before you take this step. I know there are things that mean the world to me that I will never get rid of, but that list is getting smaller and smaller as I go through this journey. Many of the items I thought I could not let go of, I have since donated or thrown away.
Letting go is never easy, I am hoping the longer I live this lifestyle, it will get easier, but I know it is worth it. I know the joy I felt when I could go into my closet this morning and easily pull out clothes for work today without having to flip through a bunch of other clothes I do not wear. I know that by letting go of things you are doing more than letting go of items you love, you are making room for your dreams and desires to grow. You are teaching yourself that memories are more important than things and things do not hold your memories. That switch in thinking will make a huge difference in your life, I know it has in mine!
Comment below and let me know what item you love, but know you can get rid of in order to open up your life to the possibility of more!
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