Letting Go: Sorting Through My STUFF

I just watched the last piece of my Nana’s cherry wood set get hauled away.  I dragged that set with me from home to home for the last fourteen years and today, I let it go to an appreciative young man who was probably furnishing his first apartment.

I moved out of my parents’ house over 19 years ago.  Hurricane Sandy brought me back here temporarily.  My dental reconstruction is keeping me here a while longer.  Deciding it was better to have funds available to pay my various dentists than for storage fees, I cleared out my POD this weekend.

I am a fiercely independent person.  I do not enjoy asking for help.  However, this situation has required that I learn how to accept it and I am definitely grateful for the help that has been extended to me by friends and family.  I’d be lying if I said I was excited about the idea of sorting through all my crap and deciding what stays and what goes.  It’s a perfect beach weekend and that is where I would rather be.

Rather than dwell on the loss of my independence (and a good beach weekend) though; I’ve decided to view this as an opportunity to let go of what I don’t need and welcome a fresh start.  While I was looking through one box, I found a baseball card album filled with Steve Sax cards.  My boyfriend in college gave it to me as a birthday present one year.  I had remarked that Steve Sax had a cute tush and he thought it would be funny to give me all his cards.  It was funny but not funny enough to keep toting around decades after we broke up; especially when I never really wanted it in the first place.

The baseball card album was one of his better gifts too.  One year he gave me a toolbox filled with tools.  I didn’t want that either.  The nicest things one of my friends at the time said about it was “tell him next year, you want a jewelry box and to fill that up too.”  The rising chorus from my friends was “dump him” and eventually I did.  So, why do I still have this little album all these years later?  Who the fuck knows… I am a sentimental person but I think this is a good time to reevaluate what I want to keep in my life and what NEEDS to go.

I also have this sense that letting go of unnecessary stuff will make room for new and better things, opportunities and experiences in my life.  I think I will do a mental overhaul while I am at it and let go of accumulated fears, pains, frustrations and insecurities… I’m sure I have a book on that in one of these damn boxes…

What do you need to let go of?  Have you had a positive experience after letting go of items you no longer needed?  I would love to hear from you!

Love and blessings to all,

Cynthia

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4 thoughts on “Letting Go: Sorting Through My STUFF

  1. Jodi

    Wow, I know how hard it is to go through your stuff & cleaning house. I’m really bad about that, and my husband is even worse! I’ve had to do it a few times in my life. When I moved from NY to CA, when I moved from CA to CT, then when I moved from CT to Singapore! But as hard as it was – I don’t really remember much I regret letting go. Now I feel so – ummmm, can’t even think of the right words! Clogged up comes to mind! Too much stuff, too many attachments! Clean house & feel free!

    Reply
    1. Cynthia Lenz Post author

      It’s challenging. I agree with you Jodi. It’s interesting that you write that you use the word clogged. It’s amazing how quickly we accumulate stuff. I have gotten rid of a lot of stuff every time I’ve moved (the last 3-4 times anyway) and I still have so much. It seems so unnatural.

      Reply
  2. Jonathan

    You have no idea how proud he was of those cards. Crowed every time he got what’s- his-name at the card store to get him a new one.

    Wonder if he ever got himself that quiet, subservient, dark haired, olive skinned Italian woman he pretended to want?

    Reply
    1. Cynthia Lenz Post author

      It was thoughtful in a way. It certainly wasn’t something I would have gotten for myself.

      I hope he did find his dream woman. I wish him every happiness.

      Thanks for taking the time to comment Jon.

      Reply

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