Going through the process of selling our home and moving has been an interesting and eye-opening experience.  From the original "Let's pack up what we don't absolutely need," to staging the home with area rugs, candles, towels, furniture placement and artwork, to the daily keeping it clean, it's been hard to focus on much else. 

The sale went well and we are now moved into a home we are renting.  The overriding thought and frequent exclamation throughout the moving process has been, "We have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!"
 
Adding to the trauma of moving is that our new house, while not significantly smaller, does have considerably less storage & closet space.  So guess what?  We're purging again, and will continue to do so as we open each box.
 
 
How about you?  If you had to move, how many unnecessary boxes would be packed, moved and unpacked with items that are no longer needed in your current or future stage of life?   How much of your mortgage or rent is being spent for storage of things that are cluttering your home, heart and life?  Are there items that could be better used by someone else?
 
Besides the financial toll of excessive worldly goods, how about the emotional toll?
 
This month we will focus on looking specifically at our closets.  Thanks to Julie Morgenstern for some of these ideas in the January 2009 issue of House Beautiful. 

Your closet holds clues to who you were,  who you are, and maybe even who you want to be! 
 
If you have the feeling that there's something more you want, or you are feeling stuck or weighed down, you may be ready to do some "shedding,"  to let some things go and create space, or margin, in your life.  (These principles can also be transferred to other areas of your life - financial, emotional, relational & spiritual). 
 
Before starting, you may want to buy new matching hangars and matching baskets or plastic bins.  
 
Set aside a couple of hours, put on some great music, and begin by pulling everything out of your closet if possible.  Ask yourself some questions as you select what to put back in:
 
1)      Do I love this?
2)      Is it flattering on me?
3)      Is this the image I want to project?
4)      Is it still in good condition?
5)      Does it make me look dated, older, frumpy?
6)      Is it a holdover from a past season in my life?
7)      If it were gone tomorrow, would I miss it?
 
*Some items are treasures - keep those.
*Trash the trash.
*Bless others with the rest (lots of charities will even come and pick them up for you).
 
Then value your cleared space!  Breathe it in and enjoy it.  In the future, only fill it with items you REALLY want or need to make the statement of who you want to be. 
 
And keep some space in your life!  You'll sleep better, feel better and have more energy!