Monday, January 2, 2012

Ruthless purging …

Happy 2012, friends!

Periodically, I do an assessment or discernment, asking myself:
Am I holding onto anything that no longer serves my highest and greatest good? Is there anything in my life that no longer serves a purpose in where I am currently in my life? Is there any burden that I’m carrying that needs to be released?

I’ve used this technique over the years to release all kinds of things, from just excess stuff to jobs and even relationships. Releasing helps me to make transitions in my life, to make shifts that hopefully help me to open up and grow by not clinging to things that no longer serve a purpose.

Right now, I feel the urge to purge—to lighten up, clear out, freshen up—and declared last Saturday Ruthless Purging Day. It’s carried over into Sunday and now today, but boy am I making happy progress in going through all this stuff, clearing, cleaning, organizing. Whew!

First, I finally sold my china cabinet. Too big, too cramped for seating. Helped carry it out with the guy who bought it. Heavy! Of course, then I had to go through the contents and toss/donate/store everything.

 053110 dining area   010112 Dining area 

Mom’s china is going to my brother so I went to the Container Store and got china storage packs. (And other stuff; that place is dangerous.) Packed up Mom’s beautiful china. (Being from Texas, she loved yellow roses.)

010112 Mom's china

Then I went through everything downstairs—cabinets, drawers, closet—and kept filling bags. A friend is going to be taking a rug, a floor lamp, a table lamp and the coffee table in about a month, so I’m releasing those to live a new life in her new home. I gave her some stemware, a wireless modem and a large tray, too.

Cleaned and rearranged stuff downstairs and I just love the new, more open look of everything. Today, I’m working on the upstairs bedroom and office, filling more bags to toss or donate.

It feels great to lighten my load and release things that no longer serve me and my  needs well. I think we need to take a look at things from time to time and get a fresh, new perspective, whether it’s stuff or behaviors (another aspect I’m working on) or the people in our lives. When anything has fulfilled its purpose in our lives, it may be time to let it go and live another life.

May every thing and every one in your life serve your highest and greatest good. If something/someone doesn’t serve you well any longer, release it to be of better use to another perhaps. May you be blessed with love, happiness and the freedom to be authentically YOU.

5 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

That is a very wise practice, Rose. It's something I should do more often myself.

Laura said...

I used to do this big job on my own and it would feel SOOOOO good. Now I need help, but my young house elves (daughters) are not so keen on helping Mom with such tasks. Alas...I must do it very, very slowly on my own.

Your dining room looks so spacious and light Rose...just gorgeous! Happy New Year my friend:-)

rebecca said...

I am always purging yet the accumulation of stuff over 30 years I find takes time! Plus, I live with a pack rat and so I donate/rid stuff when he's at work because if he sees it around, he'll take it out again and keep it!

I need to work more on the "sentimental" things. Like my mother's china. I never use it and half of it is in my hutch and the other half stored in the cabinet underneath. I would never sell it but find someone in the family that would love to have it, like you did. I don't Rose, you inspire me but I'm scared! Wish I had your courage.

But this is a new year and so I am taking this post of yours to heart and will apply your message to my life in 2012. This will be the year of the purge!

Wishing you a light-filled 2012!

Rebecca

Rose - Watching Waves said...

Debra - I'd rather be walking labyrinths like you than purgine. :-)
Laura - Your comment reminded me of a favorite saying about tackling big jobs: "How do you eat an elephant?" "One bite at a time." Slow and steady works, too. It can get away from us so easily, can't it?
Rebecca - It IS the accumulation of stuff over a lifetime; I was thinking earlier as I was going through office things (where'd it all come from?) that when I was first married at 20, I didn't have anything but exactly what I needed. Now - wow! And my mom's china - I don't want my home to be a storage facility. My home is my sacred space, where I am nurtured and fed. I'm glad my brother's going to take it. And living alone as I do makes all of this so much easier since I only have to contend with my own excess.

Lisa @ Lisas Creative Designs said...

Hi,
Stopped in via your comment on A Beach Cottage. I am doing some major purging myself this year. I have accumulated so much stuff and I am sick of the clutter!