With the year coming to a close I have begun thinking about end of year traditions that I want to create and stick to in the coming years. Things that will not only allow me to reflect on the year that is ending, but also make plans and preparations for the year ahead. One thing I have decided to do is to purposefully let go of some physical “stuff” that is just taking up space in my home and incidentally in my life.
I actually got the idea from Jess Lively as she practices letting go of up to 100 items that she doesn’t absolutely love or use in her day-to-day life. While my practice may not equate to exactly 100 items, I do plan on getting rid of clothes, books, and other items that I have moved from place to place with no real “home” for them. I thought this would be a good idea since I will likely be bringing more “things’ into my space with holiday gifts etc.
But this intentional practice is more than just making room for other “things”.
For me it is about letting go of the clutter in my physical space and in turn my mental space. I have some pretty lofty goals for the coming year and I will need both the physical space and mental space to be able to effectively achieve them (even if I don’t complete them all). I have found that letting go of “things” generally helps me breathe easier, both figuratively and literally. I feel good when I am able to let go of “things” and can see the clear space that is the result and the endless possibilities that space leaves for me. My hope is that each year I will have less and less to get let go of because my space will be filled with intentional items that not only make me feel good, but add to my life on a daily basis.
Do you have any end of year traditions that you practice? I would love to hear about some of them.
I’m working on a similar letting go of “stuff” for the same reason. I need the mental/emotional space even more then the physical space!
How is that going for you? Do you find it easy to let go of the “stuff”? Letting go of the stuff is easy, it’s just making the time for it that I am finding a bit of a challenge.
Some stuff is easier to let go of than other stuff. Both parents are huge savers, so I have a lot of conditioning to work through when I try to get rid of stuff. (Particularly the worry that I might need it someday and not be able to afford it then.) But, like you, the biggest challenge is finding the time and energy to go through things.