The first half of July has been a busy time for our family: 4th of July celebrations followed by our grandon’s twelfth birthday and his first solo flight to North Carolina to visit our oldest daughter. This weekend, we’re in Rhode Island for a family wedding.
In the midst of these fun times, my husband and I have taken on the task of decluttering our basement. Not necessarily an exciting job, but one that needs to be done and has offered the opportunity to review some of life’s lessons.
We had a collection of beautiful, large professional picture frames left over from our photography business that closed in 2008. The frames were very high quality, some still wrapped in their original packaging from the vendor. We considered them valuable, and we’d been holding onto them for someday, but someday never came. We tried selling them, giving them away, donating them to various organizations, but no one wanted them. Finally, we took them to the town dump where we had to pay to dispose of them. The old saying that something is only worth what someone is willing to pay felt very true in this instance. We may see something as valuable, but it may only be valuable in our own eyes. Ultimately, it was so freeing to dispose of the frames, and our basement is much cleaner.
I started thinking about decluttering my life: what am I holding onto that isn’t helpful to me, but I haven’t let go of? What do I need to release so I can continue to grow? Do I need to look at my thought patterns, personal habits, relationships, business, boundaries? Have I slipped back into old habits without recognizing them? Have I fallen into a rut? How much more freedom would I experience if I let go of some of the clutter in my life?
We stop our own growth when we hold on to things too long or too tightly. God may have more for us to experience, but until we trust and let go we’ll never know. More trust, more faith rather than holding on for “someday.” In order to feel the freedom I felt when we disposed of the frames, I had to be willing to let go.
Decluttering can be hard because it takes us out of our comfort zone. The picture frames brought back memories of joy and fun: we’d worked together photographing weddings, families and children. Releasing the frames meant saying a final goodbye to that season of our life. But in order to enjoy a new season, we had to let go.
Now you know how my mind works when I start decluttering! Share in the comments section what you want or need to declutter in your life so you can continue to grow.
I loved this Marie. Next time go on freecycle and someone will probably come and take what you are getting rid of. I have a very hard time, like most of us, letting go physically and emotionally or mentally, to things in my life. But am in the process of the internal dig and release now, with the help of God and some fellow travelers.
We tried freecycle no takers.
I understand about the letting go and digging deep inside. It’s hard work but afterwards we always feel better. I’m praying for you.
your decluttering message was great and so useful
Thank you, Carol for reading my blog. I’m happy it was helpful for you.
Thank you Marie. I kept saying for a year I’m going to go through my clothes and my house room by room. Finally one day I just started with a dresser. Then the closet. Looking at myself and my life is a little more difficult for me. With good friends and Gods help I’m doing it. Baby steps.
Great Job! Big job but you did it.
Yes, looking at ourselves is difficult. God is always there to help us. I’m here for you. One day at a time.
Wow, Marie your words and also Colleen’s comment about the wolf picture were wonderful to read and absorb. Just yesterday I began once again the task of decluttering my shelves and shelves of books. Some I finished, many I’ve read more than once, others only half- finished and some I never opened. Most are difficult to part with not because I still feel the need for all of them, but because I loved reading them and believe there MUST be that person who would also enjoy reading them. I want to give them away. However, like your frames, it’s a challenge to find that person. Many also represent my personal journey in my faith and raising my daughters and also my business. I have this belief that others could benefit as I have but how to find those people!!
I’m not ready to bring them to recycling just yet!!
Thank you for reading the blog. Yes, I love books too. I agree, they hold so many memories. I would love to see your books.
This hits home about the value of something. I had a wolf drawing I did and it was hanging on the wall in my dining room.
I sold my home and carefully packed what I wanted to keep, but after loading the moving truck, I didn’t realize I had left the drawing still hanging on the wall. It was to be loaded last so it didn’t get crushed.
When I realized my mistake, I called the realtor, who contacted the new owner. They had taken it to the dump.
The drawing hung in my mother’s house until she passed away. She received an offer of $500 and turned it down because “My daughter drew this.”
I was heartbroken that someone would have seen one drawing hanging in an empty house, and didn’t decide to find out if that was by mistake. They didn’t see any value in it and trashed it.
I have learned a lot of lessons from that event. But the take-a-way for me was God’s message that stuff doesn’t define our value. Our talents may not be valuable to anyone, but they are to God. Our dreams might only be important to us, and to God. But the value of that drawing for me is that it served it’s purpose for my mother, and now it’s gone, but my worth is within being a child of God, and not because of a talent that others may not find value in.
Amen. Your drawing was valuable to the person who enjoyed it the most, your mom. God gave the gift of drawing to bring joy to your mom. What a beautiful gift.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you Marie for sharing that. Hmmm now as I sit and look at my life and where to declutter. It’s a tough one, but going to pray and look where to find all those useless things, which I’m sure are many. Thank you for opening up this thought, so important, for me to clean up my heart ❤️. God bless ! 🤗
Thank you for sharing. Decluttering the things we can see is easy, it’s the things we can’t see that is the hardest.
I’m decluttering so far for over a year. It’s does not get easier letting go of the past which we’re happier times then what I am experiencing now. You just have to tell yourself enjoy the moment your in now & hope for the best for tomorrow.