As many of you may know, I moved from Atlanta to the Chicago. I’m from the Chicago area, so actually, this was coming back home. We moved down to Atlanta 8 1/2 years ago for my career; we moved back for my husband’s career. Ah, the ying and the yang of marriage.
So, I spent a lot of time going through every drawer, cabinet and closet in my house, determined to purge all the “stuff” I’d accumulated over the years, but didn’t really use it (or in many cases, even remember that it existed). What in the world did I intend to do with all this stuff when I put it in the drawer of my nightstand or in a bag in the back of my front closet?
I’m certain I had a good reason for why I kept the electronic calorie counter, years after I stopped believing in even counting calories. And I’m sure I had a plan for the old coffee pot — the one where I dropped and broke the glass carafe three years ago — when I put it on a shelf in my garage (yeah, I know…I don’t know what I was thinking then).
But, I made a critical decision. I took an assessment of everything I owned, big or small, and made a critical decision to either a) throw it away; b) give it away; or c) pack it away. Nothing was going to make the trip into this next phase of my life accidentally, or out of sheer inertia. I was motivated to be very intentional in what I chose to purge and what I chose to pack. I sensed that this move was bigger than just my husband’s new job.
It’s going to bring new opportunities for me in my businesses. New directions. New clients. New possibilities. And I felt that I needed to be nimble, flexible, and somehow, not weighted down, with useless “stuff” that I’ve held onto for inexplicable reasons.
I got on a roll. Maybe too much of a roll. Like I shouldn’t have purged 12 pairs of shoes all at once without taking time to replace them over time, because I am now extremely shoe-challenged in Chicago. But I digress.
The point is that in the midst of all this purging, I had an epiphany. Every now and then, we need to purge the junk and the stuff from our lives so that we can see more clearly, and be ready to take on new challenges and take advantage of new opportunities. So, I’m ready, and new opportunities in my hometown have already come my way.
How about you? Can you purge some “stuff” from your life in order to explore new possibilities and for new opportunities to come your way?
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you.
Traci,
I laughed out loud at your “shoe challenged” comment! I completely understand the need to purge.
In my case, it involves purging ideas and beliefs about myself, life, and what’s possible. You know, the kind we unwittingly take on in the course of living — the ones we don’t stop to question until we’ve held on to them for years, only to realize that they serve no good purpose?
I applaud you for your willingness to grow (that’s all purging and changing really is), and I wish you all the best in your new life in Chicago!
Nichole
Thanks Nichole. And you’re right, all this purging is really about growing and stretching myself to challenge everything–as you said, what I think and believe and why I think and believe it, as well as to make room for new possibilities. I haven’t done that in forever, so it’s been overdue. And as for the shoes (sigh), I must go buy several new pairs now. Oh darn.
Hi Traci,
I agree that we must get rid of the old, to make room for the new. God is repositioning and preparing me for greater things, so there have been a lot of changes in my life over the past several months. But I welcome all of them. I due for something new.
Enjoy your something new in Chi Town.
Sandi
Sandi, thanks for your comments. I appreciate you taking time to share your thoughts. Sounds like your “latter days will be greater”! Embrace the change and enjoy the journey!