I purged at least
7 items from every room/area of the house. And it amounted to over 400 items.
Some of it had to be thrown out (unless someone wants some medicine that expired
before my children were born), but most of it went in a pile to donate.
Emotionally, this was a roller coaster. It was liberating to
free myself from a mound (literally, a MOUND) of things we didn’t need. But it
was also sickening how much we have that we don’t need, and, if I’m being
really honest, probably never needed. And then it was freeing again. Repeat,
times 50.
My biggest logistical challenge was time. I happened to be
on vacation for much of the week, and busy with work and life the rest of the
week, so that was tough. Some of it was maddening. I went through well over 100
pens and sharpies, and purged most of them, but that takes time. Some of it was
wonderful. We’re donating 3 trash bags full of stuffed animals to Solutions for
Change, which will go to chronically homeless families trying to get their
lives back.
I loved involving Carter in this week. I loved seeing him
let go. We’ve tried to purge before, and he held so tightly to things he never
played with we never got rid of anything. Yet when we put it in the perspective
of where these toys were going and why it was important, he started to open his
heart and see needs beyond his own. I think his mother could probably learn a
thing or two there.
So we have a mountain of boxes and bags, all waiting to go
to their new homes (again, time I haven’t had yet). And the craziest thing is I’ve
barely made a dent. You can’t tell a single thing is gone. I did a first pass with the time I did have, but there is still so much more. I barely touched one corner of the garage. Moving forward, I
want to continue this cycle of careful consideration of what we do have, and be
really mindful of what I buy and why. This home can’t possible need another souvenir
mug. Ever.
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