I just realized I didn't take any pictures. Good for me...bad for you.
Spending two months in Africa living out of a suitcase is good perspective. I took the largest suitcase I own. One I rarely use, because (ironically) I hate packing a lot of clothes. Even the guys had larger suitcases that I did. I left half of my shirts in Zambia. I left even more clothes in South Africa. Yet, somehow, the suitcase came home full. It boggles my mind! But I digress... those two months were very telling. I had limited clothes. Limited everything really. I had access to buy anything I needed, but only bought what I truly needed *gasp* because I was on a budget. because I was serving the people of Africa. My life wasn't solely wrapped up in my wants and needs.
Coming home I knew I had a lot of clothes. I knew I wanted to get rid of clothes. I knew I wanted to go back to Africa for a year, or more. If you've read my blog you know I am no stranger to closet purges. Yes, somehow, it is possible that I still have that many clothes left.
My initial week back in the country was all about survival. Making it to work. Staying awake on American time. That was it. I wanted to be kind to myself. [Read: I let myself be lazy.] My friend posted on facebook about going through her closet, and though it was something I knew I wanted - and needed - to do yet again, I didn't think I could handle it. [Read: I wasn't sure I would be decisive enough to make any progress.] But it kept nagging. I want to lose weight, so there was the thought that I could focus on losing weight and then revisit the closet. Except the nagging feeling persisted. I thought that maybe the nagging would overwhelm any motivation I had to work out. So I just started....
The place I work implemented a new dress code: only company work wear. Printed polos, etc. When I'm spending 40 hours a week in work clothes - that can only be official work clothes, it drastically reduces the opportunity I will have to wear my other clothes. Insert statistics about people and the fact that 80% of the time we only wear 20% of our wardrobe, etc etc etc. So I just started. [Read: I emptied out all of my drawers and my closet.] My ultimate goal would be to fit all of my wardrobe into one suitcase. Or as much as possible. I don't want to have an entire second wardrobe in storage long term, in the event that I do go back to Africa. I own some beautiful clothes. But they are just clothes. If I don't wear them, there really isn't a reason for me to even keep them. In a way, clothes are like spiritual gifts. [try to stick with me...] We talk so much about spiritual gifts, and how they aren't gifts unless you give them away. If I have the gift of hospitality but I don't use it, it isn't really a gift because no one is benefiting from it. If I don't wear the clothes in my closet, they aren't adding anything to my life. In this case, you can argue that they are detracting from my life. Using up space in my world without anything to show for it. And if I believe my clothes are that beautiful (which I do) but I am not wearing most of them (which I am not) then I should give them away so someone else can have the chance to wear them, right? Right.
So it began. I ruthlessly, quickly sorted through my clothes. Keep. Donate. Toss. Keep. Donate. Toss. I didn't take pictures. Maybe I should have, but I have already taken everything to charity this morning. Before I could question my decisions. Out with the old, in with the...currently owned. I'm not even done. [yikes...] The majority of my clothes are still in limbo, waiting to be put away. After I had delivered the latest conquests from my closet, I wrote a list of criteria the remaining items should meet in order to retain their place in my closet. I'll go through the rest of the clothes as I put them away, or in the next donation pile. Then I have to go through my shoes... And my books, and my 'stuff' ie anything that doesn't fit into a specific category and has yet to be specifically addressed.
Also, as excited as I am about cleaning out my closet - and I am! - it is a big weekend! One of my best friend's is graduating from graduate school today! And the Missionary Ladies are having their annual Spaghetti Dinner (the tastiest spaghetti ever - it's made with love!) And my best friend is coming home this weekend! I haven't seen her for three months!!! Who's excited??? THIS GIRL!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment