My daughter came in to visit from across the country...
She saw that I had purposely lost 40 pounds but was still wearing old clothes that were falling off me. She told me we were going to spend a morning cleaning out my walk-in closet.
Who Cleans out a Closet When Her Daughter's Visiting?
The thought of clearing out clothes was the last thing I wanted to do. Why couldn't we just go boating or kayaking or lie on the beach? Who wants to spend time cleaning out a closet.
Well, she's a chip off the old block so I knew better than to argue with her...
First, she said, "Mom, you're going to be trying on clothes so off with everything but your bra and underpants." [Yes, dear.]
Then, we started at one end of the closet...(I wish I had taken a picture of what it looked like before we started.)
She gave me 2 choices...donate or keep.
My Own Objections
Now I was feeling some things:
Attachment to Items: Letting go of clothing can be difficult, especially if certain pieces hold sentimental value or memories. I might feel emotionally attached to certain items, making it hard to part with them, even if I haven't worn them in years.
Fear of Regret: There's always the fear that I might regret getting rid of certain items once they're gone. I worry that I'll miss something later or that I'll wish I had kept it for sentimental reasons.
Conflict with Personal Style: My daughter's idea of what should stay or go might not align with my own personal style preferences. I might feel resistant to getting rid of items that I still love and enjoy wearing, even if they're not to her taste.
Doubt About the Outcome: I questioned whether decluttering my closet might actually make a difference in my life. Perhaps it will lead to a more organized space I'll just fill up again or if it will just create more chaos, making me want to shop more.
Flash Mobbing My Closet
But once we started, we didn't stop. At first, she started folding the items as we would be giving them to our local Teen Challenge Donation Center. Many of my clothes were of good value and I had had them for years.
Eventually, I noticed she stopped folding them but just threw them in a bag. If I liked them, we hung them back up.
Finally, Sarah was pulling things off the hangers and just saying, "Ugly, nope" and so the process sped up a little bit more. I didn't even have to try it on.
Then came the clothes that had a broken zipper or a missing button. "Would I repair it?", she asked. And her second question, "How long had it been hanging in my closet needing repair?' Noting my hesitancy to answer her meant it was going in the TRASH pile. Oh dear!!
But we laughed and had a good time cleaning out this closet.
Then she didn't stop there. Knowing I might leave the bags in the house, she said, "Where's your keys? I'll load these bags up and take them to Teen Challenge right now for you!" How could I resist? She took 4 50-gallon lawn size plastic bags of clothes to the donation center!
Friends
When my friends can over for dinner, I beamed like a peacock and had to show them my "new" closet. They were impressed. Even one husband said, "Geez, I have more clothes than her." Someone else said, "Are we going shopping?" To which I replied, "No." (I hate shopping for anything and that's probably why I still had clothes from the 1980s hanging in my closet.)
So, now it's been several weeks since my daughter and I cleared the clutter.
I can't tell you the relief I feel!
There are so many benefits to this and it's hard to explain how silly I feel wanting to visit my closet just to see how good it makes me feel. I mean, who goes to their closet to feel good?
But here's what has happened next...
- I now feel a sense of clarity and lightness wash over me every day. Gone were the days of sifting through clutter to find something to wear. Now, each garment hanging in my closet fits me perfectly and makes me feel so good. The sense of freedom and empowerment that comes from having a closet full of only the clothes that looked good on me and that I could wear is unparalleled.
- Rediscovering Hidden Gems: As we went through my wardrobe, we came across items I forgot I had. It was like Christmas in May all over again! I found pieces I loved buried under other items. I found clothes I hesitated to try on because I was afraid they wouldn't fit, but they did!
- Less Stress: There's less feelings of stress and anxiety. By clearing the clutter, I have created a more peaceful environment in my home. Plus, I know where everything is and it saves me so much time. I don't have to "guess" anymore.
- Simplified Decision Making: With fewer items to choose from, deciding what to wear becomes simpler and quicker. I spend less time agonizing over outfit choices and more time enjoying my day.
- Helping Others: Donating my clothing to charity gives me a good feeling of doing something nice for someone else. I know my clothes will be appreciated by someone in need and this makes me feel good.
- Improved Self-Image: Wearing clothes that fit well and make me feel confident positively impact my self-esteem and how I present myself to the world. In fact, I told my friends I'm ready to get back out on the "circuit" again with workshops and speaking engagements because "I now have something to wear."
Most importantly, I couldn't do this on my own. I had to have help. Sarah was unattached to my clothes. She could make those quick decisions. I trusted her not to dress me like a 20-year-old or to take me out to get tattoos. No, all the things in my closet I once loved, but knew they weren't right for me anymore. So we simply found the things I still loved and actually fit!
No shopping needed!
P.S. Many of you members have asked me how I've lost this weight in 6 months and still losing. It is truly the easiest thing I've ever done. No drugs. My dad was an old country doctor and in the 1960s he had a diet plan for his 50-year-old plus patients who wanted to lose weight. He, himself, lost 40 pounds in 6 months and my mom lost her extra unneeded 30 pounds. He was a family practice doctor but so many people loved his plan they came to him just to lose weight.
I am writing out what the simple plan involves and will put it in your Senior Freedom Club™ membership FREE for you when I get it done. If you're not yet a member, then click below to join the waitlist so you'll get notified when I open up membership again.
