Decluttering my world

Working towards my goal of minimising my possessions, this week I emptied my craft and sewing cupboard. I heard somewhere that one of the guidelines to reducing or minimising your possessions is to ask yourself if you have used the item in the past nine months or plan to use it in the next nine months.  Using this guideline, boxes and boxes of fabrics had to go.  Fortunately, I had previously boxed everything up to tidy up the cupboards. I say fortunately because if I knew everything that was in those boxes, I may not have parted with it so easily. I started to go through one box and was tempted to pull out bits and pieces I was fond of or thought were beautiful.  I slammed the lid back down and marched it all out to my car and sent a message to the woman I planned to give it to.

I could not believe how much I struggled to emotionally part with this stuff.  It was a reminder to me of a lovely season in my life when as a Home Economics teacher, I taught units on textiles and embellishment to teenage girls.  It was a reminder to me of a season in my life when I enjoyed making aprons from pretty craft fabrics. It reminded me how I found solace in creativity when mum was dying.  I remember my ‘artist dates’ and how much I enjoyed choosing the fabrics and my delight at the fabric’s colours and patterns.  I started to rethink my decision and wondered if I might start creating with textiles again. Then I stopped.  I had not touched an item in those boxes for over two years. If I was completely honest I did not love textiles as much as I loved baking and my boxes were also full of unfinished projects. And even more so, I could not carry on with the things I believed that this season asked of me as well as start sewing again.  So, in spite of a surprising sense of grief I slammed the car boot shut and delivered everything to the woman I promised it to.

I heard a message from a visiting Christian speaker recently that reminded me my inner world might need some decluttering too.  There are memories and experiences from my past; both good and bad, that may be holding me back from the things I believe that this season is asking of me.  Some of that inner world has already been packed in little boxes. At least I have sifted and contained some of the clutter. But, I have another step I must take and that it is to finally let go.  I am not advocating living in denial or pretence, but rather handing those boxes over to a loving God and trusting Him with the contents. I am not sure which boxes are going and which are to stay, but I do know hoarding boxes are both weighty and distracting. Minimising my inner world is necessary. 

As I pause to reflect I realise that some of my boxes represent unrealised dreams, broken relationships and seasons that have ended. As my sewing boxes highlight, my outer world’s stuff is intertwined with my inner world.  As difficult as it is to let these go, it is necessary to lighten the load so I may move forward and into a new season. 

How about you? Do you have clutter in your life: outer or inner? Have you done any sorting or sifting at all? How are you going with letting go of those boxes?