clearing

i live in a small space, so am overall mindful of what i bring home to roost.  the adage of beautiful and useful helps and extends especially to handmade items from others.  

but even in the most carefully curated space, clutter creeps in.  if i'm away housesitting, as i often am, i'll put things in cupboards when i'm home to "organize later".  it doesn't show and it's by no means terrible, but stuff accumulates, nonetheless.

i've practiced the "swoop through" declutter-as-i-go method for years, and i also know it's ok to keep things for a time (it doesn't have to be all or nothing).  "enjoy it for a while, pass it along"" is a mode i'm comfortable with. i continually ask myself questions such as, "when is the last time you've worn that.  wait, have you ever worn that?  do you really need that many cheese knives?"

right now, five bags of 'accumulated' are sitting by the door, on their way out.  trays, books, pillows, old linens, towels, random jars, extra mugs, containers, metal straws, and general "kitch".  

it feels so good to open a cupboard or drawer and have extra space free of "surface abuse".

and then i thought about my heart.  my inner wellspring of life.  how cluttered had it become?  also, not terrible thankfully, but what needed clearing out to leave space, especially during this season?  

i was honest with myself about getting rid of small hurts, minor disappointments, strange interactions replaying over in my mind, petty worries, needless fears, and other just general accumulations from normal living of life (think of it like an oil change for your car because you're driving it, no shame in that).

and you know what?  my space feels better and so does my soul.  there's room to breathe in both.