Let It Go

Dear Danielle,

You want to get rid of more stuff. You dream about tossing everything. You mentally go through your closets and cabinets donating items with ease. Nobody is listening but you talk anyway, " What's the big deal? This is a breeze. Who needs this stuff anyway?" You can't seem to figure out why all those people on hoarders are having so much trouble. Sissies.

Then you wake up and see your stuff in real life. YIKES! I know. You thought things were supposed to be scarier in your dreams.

It's usually at this point that you start having a conversation with yourself about your things. You talk to yourself because if you started talking to your possessions someone might finally come and take you away.

You hear your mom's voice explaining why you should hold onto things- like that banana slicer she gave the kids. Does it even matter that they will only eat bananas whole and completely unbroken? Or how about that turkey platter for when you might host Thanksgiving (not happening). Or even worse your own voice. You never know when you might need a mandolin slicer. You've been meaning to do some major slicing. And don't forget your Snoopy Snow Cone Machine. Do you really even have to discuss this one with yourself? Snoopy is awesome.

Sometimes you feel sad because a lot of your stuff was gifted to you. You don't want to hurt people's feelings by tossing stuff which is really kinda not your stuff but actually is your stuff. Right?

And then there is the sunk cost feeling. The lost money YOU spent on purchasing an item that you will never recoup. The realization that you overdid Christmas again and the kids aren't even playing with those AMAZING gifts you picked out. Instead they are playing with a container of colored rice.

Lastly, let's not dismiss those sentimental items. The unfinished baby book, the letters you wrote to Pete in college, pictures from before you had kids and aged 10 years. If you toss that stuff it might be like it never happened. You HAVE to keep that stuff. What would happen if you forgot you met and fell in love with Pete.

So that leaves you keeping...ummm...let's see...everything.

You've got to let it go.

LET IT GO...

Love,

Your future (less stressed more organized) minimalist self