This year I decided to embark on the biggest purge of my life, which involved going through all of my belongings to determine what I wanted to keep and what needed to go. I went through items in my garage which included items from my childhood which had held a certain amount of sentimental value, things I had bought in recent years that had not been used, and some of my mom’s collectibles which I held onto mainly out of guilt and obligation. Something took over me during this purge in which I decided to be rather ruthless in getting rid of items which were just taking up space. I began to truly understand that it really was just STUFF, and that my memories would not be destroyed if I got rid of some things. Based on this new way of thinking, I sold my guitars, vintage oil paintings, record albums, old toys, assorted appliances, clothing, jewelry, and bikinis. Over the past couple of months I also listed and sold many items on eBay, and as a result was able to recoup some of the money I had spent on items which I no longer had any use for. The entire experience has been incredibly liberating, like shedding old skin, and the feeling of being bogged down which I had been struggling with suddenly vanished.

I HIGHLY recommend doing a purge of stored items whenever you get a chance, not only because you can de-clutter your home effectively by doing so, but also because the process can be therapeutic. Sometimes letting go of something you have kept out of obligation or habit can allow you to move forward and grow.