Declutter and Destress

So, are you a keeper or a pitcher? 

 

Do you attach memories to physical items, or do you keep them in your mind? Are pictures enough to look at to reminisce, or do you need to pull out that old box of "memories"? Do you like to keep everything anyone has ever given you, or can you appreciate it for a time and then pass it on for someone else to enjoy?

I'm somewhere in the middle. I have a really difficult time getting rid of things that hold sentimental value. The item may be from a time in my life that is over, and I feel it's time to move on. Sometimes, it's a letter from an old friend who no longer holds a place in my life, so keeping that letter isn't important, while the one right next to it, given to me by my daughter on her wedding day, means the world to me. One is ok to place in the recycling bin, and one I'd probably get buried with, if I had my way. 

The past few weeks were a time to let go.

We, after living in our home for nearly 20 years, are finally getting new carpeting. It's a big deal for us. These carpets lasted through four children, two dogs, a cat, birds, several guinea pigs, and a hamster. They have survived.

• Spilled paint
• Nailpolish
• Markers
• Playdough
• Dirty feet 
• and Muddy paws 

Not well, may I add. But they survived nonetheless. And tomorrow is the day we say goodbye. I think I would actually say, "Good riddance!" Man, did I hate those carpets. From the day we moved in. But now, tomorrow, I get to have the carpets I've always wanted. Gray, not tan. Multicolored, not solid. Premium padded and pet-proofed. Ahhhh....Just thinking about it makes my heart happy. 

Getting to this day was not easy.

We took a lot of trips up and down the stairs, and also down Memory Lane. We have worked for weeks, preparing 4 bedrooms, 5 closets, an office, a dining room, a long hallway, and a staircase, for the carpet installation. We have taken numerous trips to the Salvation Army and given countless bags of clothes to friends at church. Bags and bags of books that were read to little, wondering ears as my children grew. And treasured items we, at one time, couldn't let go of. 

It's not always easy to let go, is it?

But it's necessary. Out with the old, in with the new, as they say. It's easy to say goodbye and good riddance to old, worn-out carpets. It's not so easy to say goodbye to things that we once held dear. 

• Items
• Ideas
• Habits

And sometimes, as painful as it is, People. That's a rough one, isn't it? Sometimes it's the clutter in our lives that causes stress, and sometimes it's people. What do we do then? Do we just throw them out, like we would an old, worn-out carpet? That doesn't seem right, now does it? I think most of us would agree that we can't treat people the same way we treat things. People are not disposable. We don't just get rid of them when they don't look as nice, work as well, or give us as much pleasure as they used to. But we can't just keep people in our lives who don't add value to our lives, either. If we have tried to mend the relationship unsuccessfully, find it's toxic, or their presence negatively affects our lives, it's time to say goodbye. 

Every once in a while, we have to take inventory of our lives and clean house. 

It may be an old habit, like drinking on the weekends, but college is over and has been for some time now. Maybe it's overeating, sitting in front of the tv intead of eating healthy and exercising. How about scrolling on your phone? Getting a good night's sleep so you're well rested and in a better mood in the morning sounds like a better idea, now doesn't it? So does staying healthy and spending time with family and friends, making memories that will last a lifetime, instead of not being able to remember what you did last night. 

Take a good look.

• Does it add joy to my life?
• Does it cause me stress?
• Does it bring me peace?
• Does it create anxiety?
• Does it make me smile?

If you take a long, hard look at your life, you'll know. Is it time to say goodbye, or is it worth saving? The things we keep. The people we cling to. It's hard. It's really hard. Letting go is not pleasant. But it is necessary. Letting go of what's not beneficial to our lives is vital to our growth, our health, and our happiness. God did not create us to be stressed. He is a God of order. So join me in saying goodbye to what we need to today to find our peace, and live happily ever after, after. After we finally let go. 

There is time for everything...

a time to keep and time to throw away.

- Ecclesiates 3:1 & 6