This is the time of year when I like to sort through cupboards, closets and drawers, purging things I no longer use, need, or want.
Every year, I find myself hanging on to stuff I don’t really like for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it was a gift (but isn’t my taste or style). Maybe it’s something “too nice” to get rid of. It could even be something I bought on sale and never used. (Yes, that does happen).
Have you ever walked into a room in your house and looked at something and experienced an instantaneous thought of “I don’t like that” followed by “but, (fill in the blank with a name of a relative who gives hideous gifts) gave it to me so I have to keep it.”
You don’t. You really, really don’t. If the item makes you frown instead of smile, time to put it in a box and donate it or add it to things you’re saving for your next yard sale.
When I find myself staring at an item and realizing it’s just taking up useless space, I ask myself three questions:
- Does it bring me joy?
- Does it have a sentimental value?
- Is it useful?
If it doesn’t meet at least one of those criteria, out it goes. Last year, I took fourteen boxes of stuff to our local Goodwill center. And although I haven’t really done much sorting yet this year, I already have half a dozen boxes of assorted stuff ready to donate.
My point of all this rambling today is that when we give ourselves permission to let go of things that don’t bring us joy, we make more room in our lives (hearts, minds, and souls) for the things that do.
One of the hardest areas for me to purge is my closet. (Anyone else have that trouble. Let’s see a show of hands!)
Here’s a super helpful chart I’ve used before (and will again) to keep my closet from overflowing.
Happy sorting and purging. May it bring you joy to clear out some of the clutter (I know I’ll be working on that this week!)
Oh, and when you ask yourself those three questions, they do not apply to immediate family members! 😉
