Clearing the Way for the New Year
It had been on my list of “to dos” for way too long. You know those tasks that get transferred from one week to the next, then to the next month, the next season? For me, it was sorting through boxes from my last move. Sounds innocuous enough, but I moved into my home more than five years ago. Sigh…
I wasn’t ignoring it. I even blocked out time on my calendar on multiple occasions. But something else always found a way to conveniently knock it back down the list.
What moved me forward? Watching the wildfires burn from Los Angeles to Seattle during this record-setting year. I felt a strange combination of fear for those evacuating and my friends who live in those states, awe at the destructive power of nature, and reverence for those called to the front lines to combat the fires and report on them.
And then I asked myself this question: “If you needed to quickly evacuate your home, what would you take?”
I’m in agreement with the basics most people would list: loved ones and pets first, followed by phone, wallet, keys, eyeglasses, computer, passport, important papers and photos. The only thing I would add to the list, if I had time, would be my writing journals, which span more than three decades.
Interesting that everything on this list would easily fit in my car. It made me realize that what I own and what I value are two different things.
So why was I holding onto these unpacked boxes?
I unpacked most of the boxes within a month of moving. Other house projects quickly took priority and I stowed the remaining boxes in the basement. Over time, the boxes represented delayed decision-making and resulted in stagnant energy. The longer I procrastinated, the harder it became to make it a priority.
As recently as Thanksgiving, I blocked out the weekend with the intent of unpacking the boxes. When that didn’t happen, I decided to take a gentler path.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, I scheduled one hour a day during the month of December to clear out the old in order to make room for the new. As incentive, I arranged a donation pick-up with the local veteran’s association on December 15th and 31st. I’m happy to report I have honored my promise of one hour a day for the first 15 days of the month and the first donation ready for pick-up.
Some observations:
Clutter, even if it’s neat, organized and hidden in a basement like mine, impacts physical, mental and emotional well-being
The emotional attachment to our stuff is far reaching and can take many different forms:
o Holding onto reminders of the past and how life used to be
o Keeping something “just in case”
o Hoping to return to a hobby or project
o Keeping gifts or heirlooms out of obligation
o Giving into “click and buy” impulses
It takes discipline to pause and mindfully let go of the past, trust in life’s flow, give up hobbies that no longer fulfill, communicate boundaries and bring less things into the home. These are ongoing practices.
The feelings that come with letting go are real: sentimentality, memories, fear, guilt, perfectionism and the realization that a material item is not going to help us be the ideal version of ourselves.
There is stress associated with the clearing process beyond the task at hand. The realization of the size of the project, the embarrassment of putting off the task, the visual distraction of the clutter, the incongruence of current life and the past and the psychic weight can all lead to overwhelm.
The stuff we own is not passive. It takes time and money to acquire it and effort and energy to organize, repair and maintain it.
The irony is the boxes that caused so much angst for so long were cleared in a few hours. Much of the contents were put in the donation pile, the boxes were recycled and the space cleared. What amazed me was how good I felt when it was done. And I have to admit, I kept walking by the cleared area for several days basking in the empty space.
My daily practice of clearing now has momentum that will easily carry me through December. It’s time well spent to comb through old belongings and ask, “Does this add value to my life?” It helps me align my streamlined living space with the out-of-view storage space. It has led to less overwhelm and more free space and energy. The resulting serenity and presence makes me think this practice of intentional clearing may well extend into the new year.
Journal Reflections: What possessions do you have hidden away that’s causing discomfort? What would it feel like to let it go? How might you take a small step in that direction?