Sentimental items are difficult to part ways with; much more difficult than just any regular shirt or dress you got at any regular store. It is harder to get rid of these items is because physical objects hold energy, both good and bad. You could probably find special meaning in everything hanging in your closet, so figure out what truly means the most to you.
The sentiment that clothes hold can come from a memory you have, the person who gave it to you, or the occasion for which you bought it. The bracelet your mom gave you, the shoes you wore on the first date with your significant other, or the dress you bought on your honeymoon all have meaning behind them. It’s understandable to want to keep a few things that hold significance, but you can’t hoard drawers of clothes while still buying new ones. When purging a closet, room, or house, be as selective as you can with what you keep for sentimental reasons. Only keep the things that are very, very important to you. If that bracelet your mom gave you is still in great condition, and you wear it a lot, then hang onto it! But if the shoes you wore on that first date are completely worn and provide absolutely zero support, it’s time to toss them.
The garbage can isn’t the only place for your older items to go. When things have special meaning, you should treat them with care, even if you aren’t wearing them. Are you hesitant to part ways with your old concert tee shirts? You can make a quilt out of them! If you cry at the thought of throwing away your child’s baby blanket, frame it in a shadow box with a picture of you and your baby on the way home from the hospital! This way you can keep the memory alive without having it take up that much sought-after space.
Now keep in mind, there is a negative flip side to holding onto certain items. If any of your clothes hold negative memories, there is no doubt they will affect you negatively. Several years back I hung onto a particular dress. I had been dating someone who was supposed to take me out on a really nice date, and told me to “dress in your best.” However, instead of going out for this marvelous date, we ended up breaking up. I hung onto the dress I was supposed to wear for a while after that relationship ended. I kept it because it was a nice dress, I had never worn it, and I had bought it brand new. However, every time I looked at it, I thought of that whole terrible weekend in 2012. When I finally got rid of it, I felt so much better. I didn’t have a constant reminder of being let down, and it made more room in my closet for great clothes for new memories.
In order to move forward, sometimes you need to part ways with the past. If you find yourself drowning in clothes and are finding it difficult to let go, consider my recommendations and see what feels best. If you still need help, visit my services page; I’m here and happy to help! In the end, you need to do what feels best. Just keep in mind that you need to take the first, sometimes scary, step to make a change!
