Downsizing, Simplifying and Letting Go

Image Source: loymachedo.com

In 2006 I went through a horrible divorce. As my ex and I divvied up what had amounted to our life together I was thinking [and feeling] the loss of my life more than that of any belongings.

I had accumulated a lot of stuff in the 8-years he and I were married, but I didn’t struggle too much cutting the fat. I got what was important; my kids [which were mine to begin with] and my dog AnnieBananie [who after 10-years, sadly, I no longer have]. The rest of it really didn’t matter that much and I opted to leave many things — like dishes and furniture, behind.

A year later however, I found myself in a position of having to downsize further in order to care for my ailing mom. Some things went into storage, while others were sold or donated. A year beyond that I had to further detach and let go when I lost what I had in storage. A year later and I was even lighter of load and so on.

It’s Just Things

Image Source: seuss.wikia.com

At first, it was really hard. Each time it was hard, but as I continued to downsize I began to simplify my life. All of a sudden I had less things to worry about. And that’s just it, they were only things. Sure, there were some things I wish I had not of let go of or lost along the way, but in the end it has actually better enabled me to do what I do.

Write…for a living, and, I can do it from anywhere [providing there’s an internet connection].

Today, everything I own can fit into a single bedroom. When it comes to physical clutter, my life is free of it. I am still working on the mental and emotional clutter, but sometimes junk is subjective.

Here is my favorite “Junk” to share…

How about you? Have you cleared the clutter?

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• Graham Hill – Less Stuff, More Happiness (fabulousorganization.wordpress.com)
• Downsize Life’s Challenges (foodforthesouls.wordpress.com)
• Simplify (aprilmay13.wordpress.com)
• Robin Williams Downsizes to Avoid Bankruptcy (bankruptcyhome.com)
• Sacramento Press follows national trend in community journalism: downsizing (sacbee.com)
• Expand and Simplify – The Most Useful Thing I Learned in Math Class (bobyewchuk.wordpress.com)
• Lifestyle Downsizing (simplevitasemplice.wordpress.com)
• Emotional and Practical Tips for Letting Go When Downsizing? – Good Questions (joindahunt.com)
• Knowing When To Downsize Your Home (baseboardradiatorheatercover.wordpress.com)
• Think small and reap the lifestyle benefits (bigpondnews.com)