I have a bunch of really gorgeous shoes.
Dress shoes with heels that I don’t remember how I walked in. Shoes that I can no longer wear and really never did do any favours to my body.
But I’m having a really hard time letting them go.
I know that purging excess things in our homes and in our minds is healing for us and our space. We can reduce stress, improve focus, boost mood and even help with our sleep. Sounds good, right?
As much as I would like to gain all of the above as well as the extra space in my baby house (as we call it), it’s still hard to part with those gorgeous shoes. So they have stayed hidden in my office closet, teasing me every time I open the door.
But I’ve realized that it’s not about the shoes. It’s about what the shoes represent… The travel and different cultures, the parties, the weddings, the dancing, the family and friends that we shared time with, and the moments when those shoes just had to come off.
It’s the experiences I didn’t want to let go of, not the shoes themselves. As pretty as they are, they have served their purpose.
It’s wild how we hold on to things we don’t need anymore, sometimes out of habit, sometimes out of guilt, and sometimes because we just don’t want to face what letting go really means. But here’s the thing, letting go isn’t just about clearing out a closet, or the possibility of losing old experiences when we can create new experiences whenever we want. It’s about making space for what actually matters, whether that’s peace of mind, a little more room to breathe, or a brand new adventure.
It’s not always easy, especially when you’re letting go of something that carries old memories or stories. But each time we release something, an object, a belief, a relationship that’s run its course, we invite in new energy. We give ourselves permission to grow, to heal, and to move forward with a little less weight on our shoulders.
Time moves on and so should we. Holding on to what has fulfilled it’s job, even gorgeous shoes, keeps energy there when it can be re-directed to the present moment. The past is a teacher, not a place to live.
I will always have my experiences, they will never leave me. But they are not to mourn, they are to celebrate and remember with people I enjoyed them with.
So this weekend, we will celebrate. Out will come the pictures and the memories of where we were and what we were doing when I wore those shoes. It may take awhile!
Letting things go is a radical act of self-honour, in this case it’s also a gift to my body and to my space.
So I’ll be packing up those shoes for someone else to love as much as I did, as I enjoy the extra space in my closet.
Then I’ll be all ready for the next adventure.
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