Clear Your Clutter, Shift Your Life
Letting go and living with only what is needed
by Kari Wishingrad, The Darrow School Class of 1978
“ ’Tis the Gift to be Simple, ’tis the Gift to be Free…”
— lyrics from the Shaker hymn, Simple Gifts
In June 2018, I attended my high school reunion in New Lebanon, New York, a small town nestled in the serene and beautiful Berkshire Mountains.
The Darrow School campus is on the site of a historic Shaker village that was established by Mother Ann Lee in 1787 as the first Shaker community in America. The community was known for its simplistic, sturdy, and sensible furniture design, architecture, craftsmanship, and vegetable seed industry.
Living in these historical buildings while learning about the lives of Shakers, I gained respect for many of their sensibilities, which left an indelible impression on my younger self. In the years that followed, as my life became more complex with the responsibilities of growing up, that appreciation and inspiration got lost in the race to own and acquire.
Even though I have been on a downsizing path for many years, I strongly connected back to the beauty and freedom of living simply as I walked around the campus. The Shakers once again reminded me of the deliciousness of having only what is needed and the freedom of release from attachment. I felt by then that I had brought too much with me on my travels.
Because I knew the cost of a checked bag would add up for each flight, and there were to be many, I packed only one carry-on for the duration of my two-month sojourn. I actually found myself apprehensive about traveling so light for such a long period of time. I was concerned about getting tired of wearing the same clothes or not having the right attire for the different climates or events I would be attending.
However, as I moved about during my journey, I realized that this concern was rooted in my attachment to my things — thinking I needed more variety and choices than I actually did.
Throughout the two months, I found myself off-loading several items. I gave away some clothes and even mailed some items back home as I felt the urge to keep lightening my suitcase. I made one purchase of outerwear, which was the only type I was short on .Ultimately, I did not tire of the clothes I had chosen, and enjoyed and used every piece I brought with me.
It does take time, this letting go business. It’s a personal process, a gentle acceptance of releasing and working past old habits and beliefs about possessions and oneself.
Having had the Shaker seeds planted at an influential age, how appropriate it is that I became a professional organizer. I continue to downsize and reevaluate what is important to me on a daily basis. As I unload and let go, I experience a lightness and joy I find almost addictive. It does take time, this letting go business. It’s a personal process, a gentle acceptance of releasing and working past old habits and beliefs about possessions and oneself.
I keep reevaluating what’s important, and redefining what is valuable to me. As a result, there is less to take care of, less to look at, less to maintain or fix, less needed or desired, more financial savings, and less baggage to roll around. Perhaps most importantly, it takes up less of my precious personal time and reduces the brain clutter that results from making decisions of what to do with, or how to manage, all those things.
Although I do not consider myself a minimalist, I can feel myself heading more and more in a simplistic direction, because the feeling is so rewarding. So many of my clients report relief and a sense of peace as we downsize. Many say there is more appreciation for what they do have. They feel relief.
As they downsize, everyone will have their own levels of comfort in deciding what to keep or let go of. That is to be honored and not to be compared. As it has for me, it may take years to find that balance.
Who doesn’t enjoy receiving or buying something new? That’s not the issue. Downsizing isn’t about not enjoying our material world. It’s about learning to keep a flow of energy; receiving, giving, and enjoying the pleasures many of us are so blessed to have. More simply, if one thing comes in, then one goes out.
Enjoy the journey as you explore that balance for yourself.
…“And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.”
This article was originally published in the Sonoma Valley Sun and is reprinted with permission.
