Downsizing Clutter

One of my goals for 2011 is to simplify my life and reduce the amount of belongings I have. I had no idea when I started into my goal how much stuff I actually have. While I wouldn’t consider myself a hoarder, it has taken me months to sell hundreds of items in my house. After three garage sales I still have boxes and boxes of ‘stuff.’

Earning Money from Selling

One of the strangest aspects of downsizing is how much money I’ve gained from selling stuff; I’m guessing I must be selling between a hundred and two hundred dollars a day in ‘stuff’ from nearly 30 craiglist ads. Some items I actually gained money, while others I lost hundreds. I had purchased a coffee table on craigslist for $30 and sold it for $100. Other items I purchased for hundreds of dollars sold for only a fraction of what I paid for them. It is definitely a wacky and strange experience.

Holding on to Things and Letting Go

Strangely enough, the hardest part of downsizing is letting go of items I’ve hauled around for over 20 years. I had an entire box of research files from college that I just felt I needed to have. I have no idea why I felt so compelled to keep these files. Perhaps it is because they represented hours of research on topics I was once passionate about. I got rid of over 160 boxes of magazines which I had be hauling through three moves from state to state. Again, I have no idea why I was lugging around so much stuff.

In figuring out what to donate to Goodwill, I found that I had 22 pairs of workout pants. After looking at each one I realized I had purchased each thinking they were long enough for my six foot six frame, but after washing them they shrank. Rather than paying more in a big and tall shop to get the right size, I kept buying more pants thinking I’d find one that was the right size. When donating these almost new pants I was shaking my head wondering what I was thinking.

The result of this experience is I’ve reduced my belongings to 10% or less than what I had at the beginning of the year. How do I feel about this? I feel like I’ve lost 30 pounds of body fat; I feel athletic, nimble and cleansed by shedding so many belongings. It’s an amazing cathardic feeling and I recommend it for anyone who wants to simplify their lives and