It started out as a simple challenge. I was even a few days late before I jumped on board. Easy instructions. Whatever day of the month it was, that’s how many items needed to be purged from your home. February 1, 1 item, February 2nd, 2 items, and so forth. I climbed on the bandwagon around the 5th of the month. I needed a total of 15 items for the day I started to catch up with everyone else.
I began in the kitchen. Some drawers were difficult to open because of all the utensils! Next, I went to the pantry. Cans of food I bought and knew I wasn’t going to use. Cleaned those out and donated to a local food pantry. Next the closet. Cursory look through – 18 shirts and t-shirts! I swear the t-shirts procreate in the dark corners! Three pairs of slippers?
‘And so the purge has continued throughout this month of February. The back of my car is getting more and more full. I was tempted once to look for something in the pile and I quickly realized, if I pulled an item from the pile, I’d have to replace it or my count would be off. Every day I send a picture of the tangible discard to the group. Viewing what everyone is purging is motivational.
When I was traveling in my car, I lived minimally. The lifestyle was very freeing, both physically and emotionally. I knew exactly what I had in the car because I used it almost every day. I knew exactly how many shirts I had, how many pairs of underwear and socks. I LOVED the freedom the minimalism brought to my everyday routine. No extra weight, just the necessities.
I have found as these days of February go by and I tick off the items needed for each day’s purge, the resurgence of a weightlessness. The courage to purge more. Getting rid of the extra unnecessary means more freedom.
I’ve been through my kitchen three times and each time I find another item I can live without. The physical purge has also given me the emotional strength to purge other areas in my life unseen by the public. The emotional weight of written cards and letters from years past, and mementos. This has been the hardest purge of all. I’ve skirted the edge of depression and wandered back to memories gone by, reliving the pain and heartache. Carrying the weight of “if only”, “but why?”, “I should have”…. and the cinderblock around my heart drags…
There is a power in the purge. The loosening of materialism and the energy it consumes. There is a promise in the purge – release of the emotional baggage. There is renewed strength with each item taken from my home and my heart. A healing… and room for more of the story the Lord and I are writing, my story.
So as we approach March first, how ‘bout it? Ready to purge? Slowly, easy at first. As the numbers grow, along with the intensity of the decisions, you will find you have more strength and heart-room to make the more difficult choices. Realizing the lessened weight is the great gift at the end of the month!
To be honest, I have more to purge and will be moving forward in my quest for more physical and emotional freedom!
