AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: If you can let go DATE: 3/29/2008 08:29:00 PM ----- BODY:

If the clothes make the man, what do they do for the woman?

I'm not much of a hoarder. My momma is worried about passing certain family things to me because I will clean out every now and then and get rid of things that she might consider too sentimental to lose.

However, when it comes to clothes, I'm a terrible hoarder.

I have skirts and blouses from 10 years ago. Classic pieces that were budget breakers at the time. I have jeans in size 10 to 16. I have dresses that haven't been worn in 8 years. I have high heels that have never ever been worn but were a good sale on a 9 1/2 AAAA, so I bought them to have when I needed them.

I keep these things, stuffing my closet, afraid to get rid of any of it. You never know when I might need it again.

This past week, I purged. Three garbage bags full of clothes were taken to Goodwill. Not only don't I need them, it was just way time to clean out and start fresh.

I don't work in an office anymore. I don't have to give grant presentations. I don't have to be interviewed on TV. I don't have to convince people to part with their money for a good cause. And I am quite sure I will never be back in the White House again, accepting an award from the First Lady (although it was quite cool at the time).

I don't need clothes for any of that, and I don't need to keep the ones I had just because they cost me a lot of money at the time.

My first marriage was all about how I needed to hold onto what I had because I didn't know if I would be able to replace it.

And that is the point. Without carrying on and beating around the literary bush, that is the point.

It was freeing, taking those clothes to Goodwill, knowing that I don't have to hold onto to them. Knowing that sometimes, when you let go of the only thing you think you have, it just makes room for something better.

P.S. I got rid of the size 16 jeans and kept the 10's. I was feeling rather positive that day. We'll see if I regret that decision later!

Labels: My Life, Random Thoughts

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Ally DATE:Monday, March 31, 2008 at 4:54:00 PM EDT I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with jeans from 10-16. I am slowly getting rid of the bigger sizes, too.

Accepting an award from the first lady? I need to hear more about that! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Bon DATE:Monday, March 31, 2008 at 6:40:00 PM EDT it is freeing, isn't it? sometimes i think my stuff is more detritus than a repository of memories...an albatross that keeps me attached to what isn't really important.

and good call on the jeans. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Andria DATE:Monday, March 31, 2008 at 7:29:00 PM EDT Yay for the purge! I read over on Guy's blog that you two were looking at houses... Just wondering if this is stressing you out. I am so beyond ready to move out of this house, but don't exactly want to deal with a potential remodel or move into another house. :/ I'm lazy like that though. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Mamma DATE:Monday, March 31, 2008 at 10:38:00 PM EDT Oh I need to do that so badly!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

gail DATE:Monday, March 31, 2008 at 11:21:00 PM EDT You, well you go girl! Purging feels good sometimes. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Paige Jennifer DATE:Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 9:29:00 AM EDT I think cleaning out my closets just might be one of the most emotionally satisfying things I do. There's something to be said for getting rid of the stale and the old to make room for the spicy and new. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Kathy DATE:Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 10:28:00 AM EDT I need to purge. The hardest things to get rid of are the clothes I paid good money for but never wore. It's kind of useless to buy designer clothes when I have no place to wear them, but I can't pass up a bargain on something I couldn't otherwise afford. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

The Laundress DATE:Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 10:31:00 AM EDT Awesome!

Well put, and good for you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Steph DATE:Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 1:58:00 PM EDT Woohoo! I love purging! You can totally get in to those 10's. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Clifford DATE:Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 4:41:00 PM EDT but but but YOU SOLD THE RHODES.

shew mannnnnnnn *sob*

p.s. - do you still have the purple velvet boots from 12th grade Prep homecoming? Rock or rock not? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Bubblewench DATE:Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 1:53:00 PM EDT I'm a total purger! It feels so great! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

texasholly DATE:Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 2:06:00 PM EDT I always feel so much better after the closet purge. Maybe even 10 lbs. lighter... ----- --------