It's time. You've been holding on to it for a while now. Everything says move on, but for some reason, you choose not to.
I'm guilty of it too. Keeping clothes that haven't fit in years. Holding onto relationships that are well passed their expiration date. Old habits that no longer fit my life, but are a part of my routine. It sucks, but little by little, I'm purging. Releasing my hold on things, and letting the chips fall where they may.
Why is it so hard? Some things we hold onto, because of the memories of who gave it to us. Other things we think we will use again. Some people we hold onto because of the "good old days" when all we have in common is memory lane. But some stuff we genuinely have no intention of doing anything with, but don't want to do the work of unpacking it, or we are afraid that it's the best we will get. So we let it sit. Taking up valuable real estate in both the physical and emotional form.
For me, I think it's the feeling of betrayal. Betrayal of the person who gave it to me. Betrayal of myself for not achieving the weight loss goal I set. Betrayal of the relationship I formed so many years ago, and all the things we went through together. It is a weird feeling holding onto things, when truth be told, the person has probably already forgotten about it, or you haven't worn or used said item in years. (Looking at you size M Old Navy sweater.) Also a tinge of sadness over what I thought could be. But if it could have been, it would have been. Emotions are just ugh, right?
We gotta make room though. And maybe the goal isn't to replace the clothes, or the people, or the items right away, but we need to free the energy that is bound to them. You gotta figure out what the present you wants. And that work isn't easy.
So, take a honest look around. What has overstayed its welcome? Usually the things are easy to identify. The problem is we don't want to let it go. But we have to trust that something better will take its place.
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