Clean out the clutter, retain the memories

I’ve been busy working on a house project; clearing out our disastrous garage. 

As the seasons turn, it’s always a great time to cleanse and purge, both your physical body and your home space that supposedly nurtures your wellbeing. Knowing this fall isn’t going to be easy for us, I wanted to clear out any energy in our lives that may be draining us. So, I decided it was time to tackle our garage that was bursting at the seams and paint the god-awful 70’s mauve walls and lime green flooring we’d tolerated for a decade. I just started with one shelf, then the other, and so on until eventually I could see the end of a long tunnel.

As we went through our old stuff together, Blair and I remembered the stress of moving from the townhouse up the hill to our new home with multiple yoga programs on the go, a three year old toddler and a one year old baby, not to mention a brand new puppy. What were we thinking? All the stuff from our past was placed in a corner and forgotten about because we were up to our ears with demands. 

For me, one of the boxes I uncovered was a collection of my trophies from my childhood. These were prized possessions, and I couldn’t bring myself to throw them out, but then again, I didn’t want to display them on my mantle either. So there they sat, until this week. 

As I pulled each one out of that musty old box and displayed them on the driveway, I recalled each victory. The Track and Field trophy I got in grade 9 the year I chose to run each race barefoot, and all the medals and plaques I earned from training endlessly to be the best basketball player I could possibly be. I loved the synergy of moving with the ball, as it sailed from player to player. I especially remembered the thrill of shooting the ball high in the air and watching it slide through the mesh. My success on the court granted me a sense of belonging and taught me that dedication in any direction in life yields rewards. I never thought I’d part with these items, because I always want to remember the feeling of the glory days in my prime. But my life is full of other victories now, like family and work, and I realize that those memories won’t disappear if the trophies are gone, they’ll continue to live where it matters most, in my heart.   

I brought the girls out to see what their mom had accomplished in her youth and told them “This is proof that if you choose a goal that’s aligned with your innate abilities and put the time in to train for it, you can and will achieve great things.” 

“This is so cool Mom, you were an amazing athlete!” they said.

I invited them to choose a trophy to keep and then I tossed the rest in a bag, took a deep breath and released my grip on the past. 

Letting go of physical items from our past is not just essential for having an organized garage, it’s an incredibly powerful way to clear out the energy in your life as well. By keeping all that stuff from your past that you feel obligated to hold onto but have no real purpose for, you’re weighing down your energy and clogging up your home space. 

If you too have a drawer, a closet or a room that needs an overhaul, I’m encouraging you to take it on and clean it up. The freedom and breathing space is worth it, and you may even feel more equipped to deal with future life challenges, I know I do!