Closet Cleaning

Since I've got some free time lately, I decided it was time to take on one aspect of spring cleaning: the dreaded closet.

I am by no means a clothes horse or fashion plate. When I buy clothing, I tend toward the most basic styles. They rarely look dated, so I just wear the heck out of them until I can't any more. I'm sure it's because of how my mother trained me. "You want to buy that? How many things can you wear that with? Where would you wear it?" I have no problem browsing through the clearance rack. Then I don't feel as guilty if I splurge on an outfit for a special event.

So my closet was getting full. Warmer weather meant it was time to pull out my short-sleeved tops anyway, so I figured I'd weed through everything on the rod.

A few shirts were a bit too short, and I'd gotten my money's worth from them. Into the "donate" bag. Some that I hadn't worn in a year or so. Also into the bag. Wow...it's really been some time since I've done this!

Then it was on to the pants. Do I really need this many jeans? I didn't know I still had that pair of dress pants! It almost felt like I was shopping and finding great bargains! Like any smart shopper, I needed to try on my items to help me decide what to keep and what to send on to a better place. To my utter surprise, a distressing number of pants...didn't fit me! And it's not just that they were snug and hard to zip. There were way too many that didn't even make it up far enough to attempt zipping! Welcome to the "Amazing, Expanding Ass Show"! (Thanks to one of my dearest friends for using just the right words to describe the occasion.) I admit that I'm what you might call a couch potato. I'm not much for outdoor activity. And that has worked for me for years! I'd watch what I eat only as far as watching it move from my plate to my mouth. But here I stood in disbelief. My butt and hips have betrayed me!

But I made a conscious decision: It doesn't pay to hold on to these things "just in case" I lose a few pounds. I'm not going to start working out. I'm not going to give up my beloved chocolate. My weight isn't at an unhealthy point. I've just filled out a little bit. So now I've got two trash bags with items to donate. Admittedly, I still need to drop them off at Goodwill, but I've at least made the first step. I practiced my ability to "let go." There's no need to keep the average pair of pants when there's no particular significance attached to them. They're not souvenir T-shirts, after all! It felt good to just get rid of them. I've got some room again in my closet! My own personal clothing catharsis.

More than just a sense of accomplishment from completing the task, there was also a certain liberating feeling. The clothes don't fit any more? No need to panic! So my body has changed a bit. No big deal! It's such a non-issue for me that I even wore shorts in public. Granted, it was just a quick run up to the drug store, but I haven't done that in years. I don't need to be so self-conscious and critical. One step at a time...I'll keep getting better.

I may still be discovering what type of job is the best fit for me, but at least I'm more comfortable with what type of pants are the best fit for me.