Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Cleaning Out

I already miss spring break.
It was here last week and it was marvelous.
I didn't get to sleep in much, but that's okay. I got a lot done.

Like some cleaning out.

My life has changed so much in the last year and, truthfully, I've been having a hard time maintaining my old life and my new one at the same time. I decided that my free time last week needed to be spent sorting through both lives and deciding what to keep from each.

I threw out (and donated) lots of yarn, fabric, ingredients, instructions and patterns. Also lots of magazine clippings.
That means I threw away lots of hopes and plans too.

It was surprisingly emotional.

I'm not finished by any stretch of the imagination. I have lots more to do. But I can see the top of my desk now and most of my bedroom floor and that feels pretty good. It's almost like being able to take a deep breath for the first time in a while.

It's hard for me to let go of things. When I have an idea, when I decide to do something, I always mean to follow through. But ideas and supplies accumulate simultaneously and after a while, I start to suffocate under the weight of all of it.

This doesn't mean I'm through with making stuff and I'm taking off into some kind of program to create a New Me. No - nothing silly like that. I'm just going to be a bit more selective about what I decide to do. And I'm hoping to avoid taking on more projects until I've finished the ones that I held on to this time around.

And maybe this will all make room for different sorts of good things to come into my life.

4 comments:

Amy Button said...

I feel 'ya sister. I started going through my things yesterday and will still today. I understand not wanting to let go but I'm excited to see what sorts of things come into your life.

Mary said...

I can imagine how difficult that must be. I relate to the plans being thrown out and it is not surprising at all to me that it was emotional. I still have boxes of hopes and plans that need to be gone through as well and just two days ago, while looking for the right size crochet hook, I went through two of them and mourned the little blanket I forgot I was making and the little scraps I thought might be useful as I closed the lids on them yet again. Until there's more time.

I am happy for you though. Making that choice to prioritize and thinking logically about it all, enough to take action, is commendable. I think you are going to be very happy about all this as you feel the freedom to dive in more deeply to the things you are loving now.

Becky Nelson said...

If you get a chance, check out the flylady.com as she gives little tips like the 27-fling-boogie and shining your sink. I've found her to be very beneficial to letting go of things I was hoping to get around to. Be blessed

Christy said...

Oh yeah! I used to use her tips quite some time ago! Thanks for the reminder :)