Clearing the Clutter and Making Space in the Home

3Lisa Ashby • 23rd May 2010 • Slow Living • cleaning, clearing clutter, home, home decor, Slow Living, slow movement

In the last four years, I’ve had two large yard sales. And in those two yard sales, I’ve gotten rid of a lot of stuff. The last yard sale was about 2 years ago and since that time, the hubby and I have been keyed in to our finances. So when I decided last week that it was time to clear out some clutter from our home, I was completely surprised by just how much stuff we had accumulated. Where did it all come from?

I’ve been hanging on to a lot of this stuff in hopes that I will someday use it.

• The pretty green desk with the hand knit cushion is my sewing table, but I don’t sew very well. In fact, I haven’t come to terms with the fact that sewing is just not my thing, so there it sat in the corner of my bedroom, unused and unloved.
• The vintage mannequin from my etsy-selling days. I love it, but I have no use for it now.
• The clothes that don’t fit, some with the tags still on, were purchased years ago in hopes that I would one day fit into them. I still don’t fit into them.

And the list goes on and on…

Decluttering this weekend forced me to let go of some of my attachments. For instance, I can’t hold on to the dream of  fitting into smaller clothes because seeing those smaller clothes every day in my closet reiterate the fact that, as of today, I’ve failed. So I let them go. If my strive to be more healthy results in weight loss in the future, then I can worry about smaller clothes. Today, they are just taking up space in my home and in my head.

Clearing the clutter this weekend made me feel lighter, maybe even a little more free.

If you’re trying to live a slower, more meaningful life, start by clearing the clutter. It’s wonderful.