September is more than half over. Fall is in the air. Days are cooling down.
One of the things we did this week was to gather every bit of clothing that we have stored up for our kids to grow into or out of and sort them out. A monumental task as boxes and totes were everywhere. Our living room feet under in clothing. Five kids make a lot of clothing.
It’s all too easy to collect things and continue to hoard them until the next century. Overwhelm is easy when total disaster strikes and we don’t know what we have.
The problem is not loads of stuff. The problem is the ability to let go.
Eventually our kids grow out of clothing. Things get old and break. Toys are no longer needed. The times in our lives are always changing. What we needed yesterday, we might not today.
And if our families are not planning on having more those kids’ clothes will sit there for no good reason. Instead, look at the families around you. Those at church who might be younger. Could they use the excess?
If you don’t want to give freely, get the items listed. Try and sell them and if you fail to sell them then give them away. Let it go.
I am not saying let everything go. If it’s useful, find a good spot. Don’t ditch tools you might need again if you have the space and ability to store them. But that broken baby rattle is useless when all your kids are over 8 years old.
When you make space in your house, you make space in your mind as well. If nothing else, you make room for more food storage 😉
I know most people think of spring cleaning, but twice a year cleaning often feels better. It allows us to go into the winter months with clean homes and relaxed minds. Plus, it takes less time when we don’t give ourselves a full year to create more piles.
And maybe it’s not time yet for the fall cleaning. Maybe there is too much still left to do outside.
Yet before the rain hits (or maybe after if your house set up works for that) do a little de-cluttering. Spend a few mornings going through the excess and find joy in letting go. I know I can sit back and watch the leaves come down with a clear mind knowing the piles I ignored (or didn’t) won’t fall on me next spring.