Dear Flylady,

With your encouragement I have begun purging my closet after losing weight. This has been hard. When I was growing up, there was a big chest in our house filled with hand-me-downs from cousins and friends along with seasonal clothes. It was a big family tradition to get out the next set of clothes and try them on. In addition, my parents would buy clothing for us at garage sales and thrift shops. I have continued to shop at such places and often end up with way too many clothes in my closet. It gives me a strange sense of security right along with the anxiety of the clutter. Sometimes I am able to buy beautiful things that have been barely worn; other times I might buy something that has seen better days simply because it costs so little. Needless to say, I have been driven by the past in this regard.

Now, as I try on things that are too big, too worn or just not right they go right into a box. Once a month I take the box to a donation center, and if I buy anything, it is much more judiciously. As my closet empties, I am beginning to feel a sense of calm along with a sense of order that makes me feel like I am caring for someone very special. Yes, I still enjoy the thrill of a bargain but I am slowly eliminating the mental dynamic that caused the clutter, which is the biggest gift of all. My life is changing as a result.

Thank you so much,
Learning in AZ

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