“One of the clearest signals that something healthy is afoot is the impulse to weed out, sort through, and discard old belongings.” ~Julia Cameron
If Julia Cameron is right, there must be something very healthy afoot in my life right now. I have been positively itchy lately to go through and get rid of things. It’s on my mind all the time, and I’m driven to keep it going.
I have a pile of clothes in the floor of my closet waiting to be donated, and it’s almost three feet high. I find myself adding new things to the donation pile all the time, including clothes, shoes, and accessories.
I went through my CDs recently and weeded out at least a third of them, which means I now also have a CD rack that is ready to find a new home since I no longer need as many to hold my collection. (Yes, I do still have a couple of others holding my remaining CDs.)
I’ve even been pulling out books lately that I’m ready to part with, and those are forming yet another pile waiting to go the used bookstore.
I’ve also been going through kitchen gadgets to weed those out, getting rid of old magazines, cleaning out piles of papers, and going through bathroom cabinets. I’ve even identified a few pieces of furniture that I’m ready to part with!
While I am by no means a hoarder, I am one of those people who tends to hang onto things because “I might need it someday.” Of course, some of this stuff I’ve been holding onto for years, and someday still hasn’t arrived.
Other things I keep because of family expectations or sentimental value, but that becomes a heavy weight to carry around after a while. I’ve been hanging onto some of this stuff for decades!
I’m rather abruptly finding myself in a whole new place. I can’t seem to find enough time to clean out, sort through, and get rid of stuff. It still often takes more than one pass through something in order to weed it down to where I really want it. (For example, I think my CD collection still needs at least one, maybe two, more reviews to weed it down further.) But I just keep finding things that I’m ready to let go of.
I haven’t known what to make of this sudden itch to downsize. I do think some of it is a desire for greater simplicity, but I think it may also be a sign of a growth spurt coming that is still underground. Maybe this is the first “above ground” manifestation of good things coming.
It sure would be wonderful if that is the case! I’m ready!
A Note on Comments: A chrysalis is by nature a fragile and vulnerable place to be, so I am committed to keeping this a safe place for me and for my readers. Comments sharing your own journey, even if your experience is different from mine, are always welcome and encouraged. Expressions of support or encouragement are also welcome. Comments that criticize, disparage, correct, or in any way attempt to undermine the validity of another person’s experience or personal insight are not welcome here and will be deleted.
Journey Through the Chrysalis 