As I walked through my attic looking around at all my bins and boxes overflowing, I thought “my relationship with stuff is complicated”. I had a sense I was picking my way through the evidence of all my past and possible selves. The same boxes that were left there last year after I had a pretty good run at ridding much of my stuff during my (now paused) 100 Days of Getting Rid of Past Shite project where I would get rid of something(s) and take a polaroid and write something on it.
Descending the steep attic stairs, I realized that my stuff acts as a place keeper for decisions I have yet to make about myself. Each object represents a place and time in my life, evidence of who I was becoming. Have I not yet decided who I’ve become? It would seem the answer is “maybe”.
Who I’ve become is my decision to make. While who I seem to be to you is not mine to own, who I think I am is my decision to make. And this becoming is never ending. So, at what point can I say, the me who was doing these things is no longer here? This stuff isn’t important to me now.
The hardest part about deciding is making a decision.
I’ve decided to reboot and resume my Getting Rid of Shite Project this Fall. I am less than 40 days from being done from that project and it’s evident I’m not necessarily done with it. Perhaps I will create a little limited-edition giveaway whatnot to celebrate its conclusion!
I want to, and maybe need to, let go of all those possible Me’s cluttering my vision, so I can focus on who I truly think I am now. I owe it to myself to entertain less distractions about who I’ve been and more imaginative expansion on who I want to be.
How about you? Is there anything that you could take a picture and let go of that would make you feel a little better? I urge you to do it before you lose the nerve and the forcefield takes over again rendering it untouchable.
If you have any thoughts, please drop a word below in the comments. Or
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And as always, thank you for your visit.
I have gotten rid of lots of stuff, I only keep what is useful and a few sentimental pieces I like to look at. No attachment to material things or that phrase ‘What if I need it one day’. It’s freedom!
The purging can be very freeing if you do it with honor and intention and kindness. I have a friend who moved to Florida and spent 2 years cleaning her basement out. She gave us some old toys. She sold stuff on Craig’s list. She consigned things. Slowly and surely, it can be done. It fosters an amazing amount of self-confidence I’ve found.
Thank you for visiting me Elizabeth!
Love,
Shalagh