Featured Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
Over the last four weeks, I have gone through a major purging, organizing, decluttering, and downsizing. For many years, I would on-and-off do some half-hearted spring cleaning, which always felt good, but then something more important would come along and distract me again from shedding those accumulated belongings. An impending move to a smaller home, which fits my current life situation as an empty nester so much better, prompted me to now finally do a huge release of “stuff” from the last thirty years and more.
Even though this process is not complete yet, I want to share my first insights and feelings. There was grief in letting go of things from my children’s childhoods. There is sadness about leaving wonderful neighbours behind. There was astonishment in looking through things I did not even know we had. There was fond remembering and laughter going through old photos. There was relief in letting go of teaching materials I had kept “just in case”.
There was also joy in giving beloved things into the hands of others who would value and appreciate them. My hot stones and my massage table from when I used to offer Reiki and relaxing hot stone massages went to a lovely RMT, who I know will put them to good use. The piano three children have played on over the last 25 years went to a sweet girl who will be able to pursue her musical education on it.
The most surprising effect that purging and giving things away has so far had for me was the clarity it has brought. Keeping things “just in case I might need or want them” reflected a certain lack of clarity about the future.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Letting go of all my teaching materials for children (my first career in my twenties and early thirties) went hand-in-hand with the clear choice that this chapter of my life is really done. It frees me up to focus with more clarity on what I want at this point for my future as a coach and instructor for grown-ups.
Downsizing also goes hand-in-hand with not holding empty space anymore for my daughters. They are grown-up, living their own life, as they should. Do I want them to have to move back home? Of course not. I might as well let go of the extra rooms.
Giving up my very spacious home office, in fact an entire basement that I had set up for clients, was also a conscious choice, yet not a straightforward choice. It was made easier by the fact that this pandemic has demonstrated how effective and personal online sessions are. And for all those who do not have the necessary privacy to connect online, there remains the option to see me at the Awakening Health Clinic in Burlington. My home office was such an integral part of who I saw myself as for the last 15 years that letting go of it felt uncomfortable, yet, making that unambiguous choice also brings greater focus.
I feel lighter. I feel ready and excited for this new adventure. I look forward to continuing to see you all online, connecting from my home to yours, or seeing you in Burlington instead of Mississauga in the near future.
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