The Power of Purging

One of the things I love about this time of the year is that I get a chance to close the chapter.

When I was in school after each semester I would take a look at my progress towards my goal, how successful I was, what I learned, the mistakes I made, the consequences of different decisions, etc.  Then I would plan out my next year.

Well as an adult I find there is another element to consider that is perhaps even more important than the rest – the emotional chapter.

As we progress through our journey in live we collect many experiences, memories, possessions.  These items are what makes us who we are and we often keep them around as reminders to maintain familiarity and other times because we just didn’t decide to deal with them.  The consequences of carrying everything forward is that it gets heavier and heavier with each passing year.

This month I looked into my bedroom and realized that I had no more room left for clothes.  I have a large bedroom with lots and lots of storage space, as well as a den where I keep many of my jackets and outdoor wear.  So, when I found myself not being able to find room for a shirt, it was a wake up call.

I looked around me and realized that I hadn’t thrown out a piece of clothing in over 10 years.  And yet, many of the clothes I had, I wasn’t even wearing.  In addition, they carried many memories of a previous and long-lost life.  A life that had many experiences, both good and bad.

Then I realized these memories were being relived in snapshot format every time I looked at specific items.  That is when I realized that much of my mind and emotional energy, much of my creative force was trapped in the past.

So, I’ve decided to start purging some of this baggage that no longer belongs in my life.  I’ve been at it for a week and it hasn’t been easy, but its been refreshing.  I realize that it’s going to take me weeks or months to truly purge everything, just because including all my possessions there is much to deal with. 

The creative energy that I am now feeling reminds me of a simpler time in my life.  A time where I was designing my future and making important decisions. 

Tomorrow I tackle my extensive VHS movie collection.