I recently divested myself of old clothes. They were friends from years of wear, and it was hard to let some of them go—not because they looked good on me anymore, but because of the memories attached to them. They hung in my closet unworn for years, but they were familiar.
I realized I have the same need in going through the house and garage – to clear the clutter of past that intrudes on the space of today and possibility of tomorrow. Everything has a life cycle, and when we hold on to things we don’t use, we create a barrier to the harmonious flow of energy. Life is meant to be vital. Our belongings are meant to be used and enjoyed, and when the time comes that we no longer need or appreciate them, it’s time to give them an opportunity for a new life with others who will find them useful. That way, we clear a space and make room for a fresh approach, a new outlook or opportunity that corresponds to who we are now.
In this season it’s time to let the old fall away so that the new can be born when spring comes again. It’s a grand time for clearing out the clutter—the dead leaves of a season now past. And from that, our load is lightened and we are ready for the renewal that is surely yet to come!
From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2006
