This month I've been in the process of cleaning my room. As you've probably acknowledged that I like to keep things neat, this shouldn't come as a surprise. It was actually enjoyable despite the time it took to clean my room. Though my room isn't that big, it took quite some time and a few days (that were spread out over two & a half week ish)to throw some things out, reorganize stuff, wipe layers of dust away (I really hate dust!) and do an annual donation.
I think the last time I did a major clean up of my room was probably in high school, but every time I do a clean up, its very rewarding. I get to acknowledge "things" from the past and discover how much I've grown attach to some things or become dis-attached to other things. Take stuff animals for examples, I have a LOT of stuff animals: a huge collection of beanie babies, assorted sizes of cute, furry animals, dolls, etc. and they take up a lot of room and collect dust. Each time, I don't move them or place them in a new location if I don't have to. I like them smiling on top of my shelves, drawers, closet or even on the floor. They actually take up a lot of room, and if you've seen my room before, you could say its quite childish and a typical room for a little girl. I still love my stuff animals, and each one of them tells a story. Who gave it to me? Where was it from? When did I receive it? Why?. This time around though, I didn't even think twice before taking them off my shelves and placing them all in a brown bag. I wanted new things in their place and I just didn't have enough space to keep them all where they were occupied.
I realize I'm growing out of grade school days. I remember when my mom would force me to clean my room and barge in with a garbage bag to throw out what she considered "junk" in my room and I would cry. I liked holding onto what I had and I just recently recycled my grade twelve notes, not like I really cared for them anyways (didn't come in handy for Uni at all). Sometimes it can be difficult and I struggle between keeping an item that is useless, but holds some sort of meaning to me, or donate it to a person who would use it more than I would and give it more worth than I did.
When I do an annual clean up of my closet, I always find pieces I've only worn once or twice and my principle is that if I haven't worn it in the past six months, it should go (not including formal dresses or occasion/weather-oriented items). Then I ask myself, why did I wear it so little? Is it because I didn't like it that much in the first place, it shrunk or doesn't fit well or it grew out of style? But I give in to donating it when I think of someone less fortunate and who would wear it, rather than have it just sit comfortably in my drawers until the next time it has a chance to be dressed on someone. I really need to consider what I buy and invest in-it'll definitely save me money in my pocket, AND not buy out of impulse (oh retail therapy...). Other times, I tend to keep worn-out and even ripped garments because they signify so much more- despite not capable of being worn (such as my black capris that ripped at the crotch on my first and only camping trip ever).
Today, the last day of my cleaning, I organized all my cards I've ever received in my life. Well, I only had the ones since grade five/six, but that's still a LOT of cards. The cards I receive are usually just in a pile in a box I have, but I decided to organize them according to category: Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Christmas/NY, Invitations, Baptism, Thankyou(s), Random Letters & Notes. As I opened each card and read the message inside in order to place them in their proper pile, memories flooded my mind. Words of encouragement, funny insider jokes, saying 'Thanks' for something I did, an update on one's life or what they're going through-each and every one so genuine. It felt like that writer was actually speaking to me in that time. I couldn't help but laugh at some of these cards from so and so at their younger age and how they've changed. Yet some things just don't change.
Cleaning my room has been an experience. I invite you to clean yours too. You never know what treasures you'll discover and what package of joy is waiting to be open.
I wish my camera didn't die so that I could take and show some pictures, but since memories don't need to be capture to be remembered, words will do.
Seeing through the eyes of things
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