I’ve been on a decluttering kick for the last few weeks, and I’ve gotten rid of a lot of stuff. Enough that there are now empty spaces throughout the house that previously used to be occupied.

It was subtle, but eventually I noticed a subconscious urge to fill the empty space.

And I had to remind myself that it’s okay to have empty space in the house.

I think this is one of those times when I have to live with the discomfort, trusting that eventually it will feel comfortable. Because intellectually, I know there’s nothing wrong with some empty space. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, in which case we will eventually fill it with something that looks nice. But in the meantime, I have a lot more decluttering to do and it makes sense not to make too many changes until I’m done.

It occurred to me that it’s a similar psychology for people who feel that if they have money, they should spend it. I don’t have a problem with saving money, but I know people who seem to feel compelled to spend every penny they earn (and then some, in certain cases). Maybe they would benefit from the corollary, It’s okay to not to spend money.

And then they too would have to get used to the discomfort. As time passes, they would see that nothing bad happens when they save money, and that it’s actually really nice having some money in the bank.

I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately. My to-do list is a mile long, which is nothing new. But I’m finding my situation particularly distressing because I had found a happy place, mentally, when the whole hospitalization/illness thing hit and I just haven’t been able to get back to that happy place since.

A good way to describe my emotional state right now is weighed down. And when I get this way, I find decluttering to be extremely appealing. The literal removal of excess weight helps me feel mentally lighter.

I’m at the point where I’m tempted to just pile everything into the car and drop it all off at Goodwill or Salvation Army. Without documenting or itemizing for taxes. The stress relief might be worth foregoing the deduction.

But then I think about the medical bills that I have to pay in the next one to two months, and the effort I put into saving money by shopping smart. With the amount of stuff we have to give away, I’m guessing we’re talking a tax deduction that’s worth a couple hundred dollars all told. I don’t want to give that money up.

So posting might be light for a week or two as I make time to document the items that I want gone from my house. Maybe I’ll even find some items that will make for a good giveaway

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