How Cleaning Out Your Closet Just Might Free You Up to Do Something Daring

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As I left the pharmacy and walked back to my car, I noticed something strange. My purse felt light, almost empty. Then, I remembered. I had cleaned it out and there was nothing extraneous in it. Every item had a purpose. Every item had a place. Somehow, that small feat felt symbolic of a much bigger theme in my life.

I’ve spent the last three days clearing out my studio and preparing both my house and studio apartment for Airbnb rentals. It’s amazing how many boxes of clothes I filled and how many bags I set aside to give away. Neither my house nor my studio can be considered spacious and I had filled huge garbage bags just from my studio closet alone. 

I pride myself on being pretty minimalistic but apparently things have a way of quietly piling up. It isn’t until you do a deep clean that you realize just how much you’ve accumulated, right?

Later, after a walk in the park with Christine and Sarah, I loaded the giveaway bags into the back of my van—bags destined for my sister, my friends, or donation. They started pulling things out of the bags.

“You can’t give this away.”

“This is beautiful.”

“This is practically brand new.”

“This is a “10”! 

I shoved everything back into the bag and said, determinedly,  “Pick what you want, but it’s all going!” And I slammed the trunk door. 

They looked at me, shocked. How could I throw away all of these attractive and useful things? And I have to admit that their looks of incredulity caused me to doubt and reflect. Would I regret my decisions?

There was a time in my life when I was building—building a home full of kids, family, experiences, and things. And now I feel this compulsion to pair it all down. Simplify. 

I ask myself, “What will fit in my carry-on bag?” but deep-down, what I’m really asking is “What will I really need or want for this next chapter of my life?” 

Despite the brave face I gave my friends, the truth is that I'm struggling with the emptiness because it means living life differently than I ever have before. 

There is so much comfort in having my things around me. Those blank spots on the shelves used to be filled with the random busyness of my very full family and work life. Those vacant corners look expectant, like they need something there. And I’m not quite sure when or with what I will fill them. 

I stood in my empty studio, my empty apartment, and my mostly empty house. What remained were only a few beautiful, unique things—pieces from my travels, meaningful items from my kids, objects that held real memory and intention. Everything else was boxed up and stored away or given away.

This was really hard. Saying goodbye to beautiful things, even meaningful things. Why was I doing this? 

I guess, I thought to myself, that unless I say goodbye to some things, I can’t say hello to anything new.

In life, that first sweep—the first pruning—can leave you with a deep sense of emptiness. But it is clearing the way for new plans, new friends, new paths, well … I’m just not sure what or who, but I’m expectant. I don’t really know what it all means or where this is all going but I know that letting go of things is an important key for the next step — whatever that is! 

How about you? Are you needing to take stock of what you’ve accumulated and make room for a new chapter in your life? Is it time for a change, a turning of the page? If so, get out those boxes and trash bags and share your pics with me. Let’s walk into the unknown together! 

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