We are moving.
Our apartment is currently a maze of cardboard boxes, which we navigate only when the necessity of getting to the bathroom draws us from the couch.
My emotions are a mix of the mild melancholy that accompanies leaving behind a positive chapter of my life, and the frustration that, even in this small place, we have too much “stuff.”
I have been simplifying, creating a minimalist wardrobe, and generally attempting to extricate myself from the burden of things (specifically focusing on clothing) for a while. I had a garage sale to cleanse my kitchen. I have purged any items attached to negative memories. I traded in my graphic t-shirts and wild prints for plain, flattering colors and my “of the moment” trends for classic cuts and styles. Essentially, I have been slowly considering, donating, selling, and replacing clothing for the past few months. It felt good, but it is a process.
“Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but doing it.” — Greg Anderson
And then today, it all fit in one box. All of my clothing, on hangers. I laid them down in one cardboard box, fully expecting to need another, but that was it.
I stood there for a moment admiring my accomplishment. I called Jared in to admire it with me. Then I ran a roll of duct tape over the top and smiled.
It reminded me of when I went to Ireland. I had never really traveled before, and I wanted to pack one carry-on. Everyone scoffed and told me there was no way I could do that. But that just spurred me on — I bought The Packing Book, I weighed my bag, and I went to Ireland with one lime green carry-on. I felt like I had accomplished something superhuman, and I enjoyed the simplicity of the ten day trip. That’s how I feel now, to a smaller degree.
Granted I am not anywhere near to owning 30 items of clothing (it’s an uphill battle), but it is definitely a marked improvement from where I was at the beginning.
What have you been getting rid of lately?
