I suspect when most people do a purge, it’s a seasonal thing, or maybe an annual event. Very practical! I, on the other hand, had a life-time of boxes to go through. I have called this my “great purge” and it’s been on-going for about 3-years (and daily).
As an artist (painter, writer, music-dabbler, and crafter)… the level of things that accumulated had gotten out of control. To the point, that even when I cleaned, the house wasn’t clean. It was more an organized chaos – every pile had a purpose! But it’s not just me – my kid is a creative collector too! We have train sets, books, and puppet-making bins lining hallways and filling closets.
Every few weeks, we have a new bag or box of donations. Every few months I load the car for another dump run. This weekend, I spent one whole day SHREDDING. The level of time it takes to do this is insane, and I understand why I’ve never been able to do it in the past. It’s a lot of focus and energy, and it’s BORING!!! However, it is satisfying. The boxes had taken up half a closet, and shredded into 3 large recycling bags. Now I have some space to move the bins from my hallways into closet, where they should have been able to fit in the first place.
Due to suffering with fibromyalgia, I have had to learn to pace myself. That is also why this purge is taking years. I can’t do a “whole room”… I have to do one closet or even just one bit, at a time. I’m also learning to let go of things I may “like” but no longer “need.” When I started purging 3 years ago, I was still keeping stuff that recently I am like “well, I kept this for 3 years and it’s hasn’t moved so, time to go!” I’ve also grown and changed, and so has my kid, so it’s a learning process.
Purging is also teaching me how to spend less. OMG the cards and crystals and knick-knacks I’ve purchased over the years, that sit and collect dust?! Now I think “That’s hundreds of dollars I could have saved for myself.” I find myself giving special items to friends I know will appreciate (if it’s something I may not want to donate). When I see something in a shop that I like, and pick up, and start mulling over, I think “will this be another thing that will end up collecting dust?” and if the answer is yes, I put it back on the shelf. I used to collect art, I’d buy myself a new piece from a local artist every year. I love supporting the arts, and it had value for me. But now? I have no room! Plus I have my own art filling my studio…
Purging is teaching me how to make less (mess). I love to create. I have so many supplies strewn all over my dining-room-studio that it’s almost impossible to keep it clean. Organized chaos lives here. I realized, at this point in my life, it’s time to put some of it away for awhile. I recently cleared the clutter by filling an empty cupboard with my oil painting supplies. Now I have a space to wrap for Christmas, and after the holidays the whole studio will be refreshed (perhaps I will convert it back to a real dining-room).
Purging is teaching me I need less. As I give things away, and bins are emptying, and closets are more organized, I have been able to give away some of the clutter-catching bins and furniture too. The less I have, the less I need. And honestly? The less I want! I am far from a “minimalist” life-style, but I tell ya… the dream of a tiny home is becoming a possible reality in my mind.
Purging is teaching me the value of doing the “daily dirties”. If I’m purging, but not keeping up on the dishes or laundry or surface clutter, then it’s easy to become unmotivated. When I was at my lowest health point during 2023, I was unable to keep up on anything. But I also hadn’t learned to pace, so I was in a really bad cycle of “all or nothing.” Learning to pace, for me, means I do smaller amounts of things more often, so they never get too out of control. Now I do the dishes after every meal (not all the dishes at night or in the morning). I do one load of laundry, every other day (so I don’t have multiple loads to do in one day). I clean the bathroom in two parts, over two days, because I know cleaning the tub puts me in a flare-up! These little things make a huge difference in my physical and mental health.
I imagine I have another year or two ahead of me before I feel truly satisfied, but I would say this weekend marked a very clear turning point, because I can FEEL the difference in my home. The energy has changed. If feng-shui is a real thing, I think I’ve tapped into it…
The point of this blog, is to say… this purge feels spiritual. A letting go of the old. A way of healing, and bringing clarity to my life. I have witnessed myself changing through this process. Just like yoga did for me, in my 20s!
What are you holding onto, that you might be ready to let go of?
What lessons have you learned from purging?
The Gentle Way of Hatha 