One thing that will always get me in the feels is being in clear spaces. Clear spaces avail me an opportunity to think clearly. They allow me view situations from a clearer point of view. They allow me to just be. Which is why I will always go the extra mile to get rid of frills.
When I was younger, there was nothing you wouldn’t find in my room. From empty pringles cans, to random beads from a cut bracelet, to completely filled jotters. If you asked me why I kept them then, I always had an answer. I could tell you I kept the pringles container because I wanted to remember the way the seller smiled at me. Or I could tell you I still kept the jotter because I needed a reminder of whoever gave me. I always had a reason to give, to redeem the fact that I found it hard to let go of almost everything.
As I grew, and accumulated more items, I soon realized how unnecessary most of these things were. These were things I no longer had use of but kept around. Gradually, I began to do away with them. I would dedicate time to clearing my personal space and throwing away things that I had no need for. I always believed in cherishing memories but in the process, weighed myself down. My cupboards were always filled up. My tables were always a mess, thanks to the unnecessary obstructing the necessary.
These days, I’ve come to embrace the beauty in moments. I no longer keep things just for the sake of keeping. When letting go seems like the harder step to take, I go ahead to do it. Declutterring isn’t just about taking away the things you don’t have use for. Rather, it is freeing yourself from the shackles built by those things.
Keeping myself away from clutter isn’t something I do always. I love it when I wake up on a random day, and decide to sort through my clothes, or through my book stacks. I don’t mind sitting there for hours, skimming through pages and fitting clothes to see which is still worth keeping, remembering the times these items were everything to me. It takes a lot to let go of these items at that moment but the feeling after is what always keeps me going. That feeling after you close certain chapters of your life, ready to take on the next. It’s a bittersweet feeling to be honest, but it keeps me lighter and I love it.
Making the choice whether to let go or to hold on, is where minimalism comes in. Surrounded by these items, I constantly ask myself if moving on is what I really want. Do I actually want to let go of these memories forever? This step is usually filled with so much emotions because choosing to not let go, is me torturing myself and letting go doesn’t seem easy either.
Staying in an environment filled with clutter, leaves my mind clogged. I find my thinking muddled with nothings, which is why I appreciate clear spaces a lot. I would rather have so many clear spots in my home, rather than have it filled with clutter.
The #KISS prompt for this week asks of our declutterring strategy and this, is my response to it.
Thanks for reading.
Images are mine.