At this time of the month you may be over all the people telling you all the ways they are cleaning out their lives, starting fresh, letting go of all the things. I get it. Goals are important to share, at least I think so (that whole accountability thing). However, having people talk repeatedly about what they are letting go of can be hard to put up with. Especially, if you’re not ready to let go of whatever it is that you’re holding onto.
A fun paradox in me? I love new starts, fresh beginnings, and the idea of minimalism (or at the very least the idea of cleaning out the old to make room for the new). But I also love things. Shoes, clothes, books, even school supplies; I love them. And I can have a hard time letting some of them go. For every piece in my closet I can tell you about 3 ways I could wear it, mention that I would miss it if I didn’t have it, and have feelings about it. And those are the pieces I think I should get rid of. Am I aware that I can hold to things too long? Yes. But is that any better than letting go of something too soon?
I have a theory about letting go– we do it when we’re ready. One of my favorite sayings is:
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom” – Anais Nin
About personal growth? Absolutely! But, does it also relate to not letting go of things that you’re not ready to yet? Absolutely. At least to me.
Because we chat fashion we’ll stay in that lane. I know that I have things in my closet that I could get rid of, we all do. And yes, I will tell you that in theory I think that you should get rid of things that you don’t LOVE, that are space holders (get what you really want, even if you have to save for it), that have no special meaning to you.
But.
There are things I’m just not ready to let go of, even though maybe I should. From shoes that I just love (even if I don’t wear them all the time) to shirts that I just can’t seem to part with, a part of my closet that I’m in the process of saying goodbye to.
And it will happen.
When I’m ready.
I believe that we do things till we can’t anymore. And while I would love to be a person who rips off the bandaid (or gets rid of the shoes), I’m just not. I tend to do it in stages, then eventually leave the shoes in a box in my car for a month till I don’t want them anymore. I don’t hold shame for needing my time in letting go. I’m a big believer that you shouldn’t hold shame in that, either. Let everyone tell you what they’re letting go of; if you are not ready to let go of something, take your time. There’s room and space for us all to let go of things at our own speed.
How’s that for cleaning out?
How do you deal with things when you’re not ready to let go?
I’m open to suggestions.
Wishing us all a week of appropriate letting go and amazing shoes! XO RA